Father of missing teenager steps out for charity

Money raised at today's event will be used to help Safe@Last launch a runaway prevention scheme in Doncaster – a programme that has already been successfully implemented in neighbouring Rotherham.

The charity, which aims to help children who are at risk of running away from home, has worked with 4,000 South Yorkshire children since 2005 and provides the only secure refuge for under 16s outside London.

It is a cause close to the heart of Mr Gosden, whose son Andrew ran away from their home in Littlemoor Lane, Balby, in September 2007.

The 14-year-old's disappearance was completely out of character and his father, mother Glenys and elder sister Charlotte have no clue as to why he chose to run away.

The last confirmed sighting of Andrew was a grainy closed circuit TV image of him leaving King's Cross railway station in London on the day he disappeared, after failing to

turn up at McAuley Catholic High School and instead catching a train from Doncaster to the capital.

Numerous campaigns to find him over the past two-and-a-half years have all proved fruitless.

Mr Gosden said that Andrew's disappearance had spurred him to try to help other children in his son's position.

He said: "Since Andrew went missing in 2007, we have taken part in more newspaper, radio and TV interviews than we can now remember as part of our efforts to find him.

"We have distributed over 50,000 leaflets and posters with the help of friends, family and supporters. Various charities have created videos, assisted with e-mail campaigns and posted Andrew's details on thousands of websites and social networking sites.

"My wife and I have still not found our son after all this effort, but at the same time we have often wondered who speaks up for the thousands of kids who run away each year from

situations that are tough for them.

"What if English is your parents' second language? What if you have run away from a care setting? What if your family do not have the confidence to deal with all those reporters?

"It never occurred to us to talk about the subject of running away as we did around other safety issues in our home, yet thousands place themselves at risk each year of being homeless, cold, hungry, abused, exploited or just plain lonely by running away.

"Losing Andrew has had such an enormously painful impact upon our family life that we hope to promote this issue by participating in the bunny run."

Today's event, which aims to raise 5,000, was organised by James Squires from Doncaster-based recruitment agency Austin Banks.

He said: "Having seen Safe@Last in action at the Lifewise Centre in Magna, I was disappointed to learn that Doncaster schools were not yet involved and decided to help Safe@Last promote its services in the town."

The Bunny Run begins at 10am at Town Field and will involve up to 500 participants completing a one-mile fun run.

Other attractions will include entertainment, a bouncy castle, competitions and refreshments.

Runners are still able to register at the event this morning.

Mr Gosden added: "It is a sad fact in our society that many young people run away from very difficult domestic situations, but there are very few safe places to run to and this is why Safe@Last has our full support.

"If we can do anything to encourage young people to talk things through with someone they can trust before placing themselves in risky situations, if we can encourage parents to raise the issue with their kids, if we can help to ensure that kids who have run away know where to turn for help and support and if we can encourage the public to look at charity websites and keep an eye out for missing kids, then we will have achieved a very positive thing."