RUNNERS are invited to sign-up for this year’s Southampton ABP Marathon, half marathon or 10k to raise funds for a charity enriching the lives of the city’s lonely and isolated (January 2022).
Communicare hopes people who made a New Year’s resolution to get fit and take up running will participate in the event on April 24 to assist with its fundraising efforts.
Communicare Manager, Annie Clewlow explains: “If your New Year’s Resolution is to take up running and you’d also like to give back to your community in 2022, please consider fundraising for us to support our services for vulnerable people living in Southampton.
“We’re a good neighbours organisation, helping people across the city and every year our amazing volunteers, who we call Communiteers, assist individuals and families with requests including befriending, transport to medical appointments and help with shopping. Anyone taking part in the Southampton ABP Marathon for us will be helping support our vital work in the city.
“We’d love more people to sign-up to run for us. Please call 023 8250 0050 or email events@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk to find out more and to apply.
“If you’re already signed up to run independently with ABP but would like to nominate us as your chosen charity, please get in touch too. We will send you sponsorship forms and you will be able to join our group of runners who are training for the event, so you can share tips and boost each other’s morale! We’ll also give you a Communicare running t-shirt!
“By running for our charity in the full marathon, half marathon or the 10k event, you’ll be helping us beat loneliness and isolation in our city.
“If you feel daunted by these distances or are more of a walker, please don’t be put off! As well as offering a fast race for those wanting to push themselves, the 10k event offers an interesting route around our city with key landmarks along the way. This would be a good distance for you to try if you would like to fundraise for us through this event – run what you can, alternate running and walking or just walk and enjoy the atmosphere!
“Our staff member Anna Gordon, who is an England Athletics Leader in Running Fitness, leads a local running community and has done several marathons herself. She is keen to support Team Communicare as they fundraise, train and prepare for this event.
“We ask that anyone who enters for us raises a minimum of £50 for the 10k and half marathon and £60 for the full marathon and, also, pays a £10 registration fee to us. We will provide a Communicare technical fabric running t-shirt to wear on race day, sponsorship forms and tips and support with your fundraising and training, as well as lots of encouragement on the day from our ‘Communicheerers’.
“So, if you, or someone you know, might be interested in a charity space with us, please get in touch or pass on our information.”
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton. Its services are staffed by its committed, kind-hearted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.
Anna Gordon, Co-ordinator for Communicare said: “The ABP Southampton events offer a brilliant experience for runners, whether your aim is to achieve a new personal best, the challenge of tackling a new distance or you are just aiming to finish.
“With the choice of 10k, half marathon or full marathon distances available, signing up for one of these events not only offers a fantastic way to support Communicare’s work but also offers a fantastic personal goal, and, with running benefitting both our physical and mental health, it’s an excellent opportunity to invest in yourself along the way.
“I am always happy to talk about running, so get in touch if you want to ask questions or seek reassurance before you take the plunge and sign-up to Team Communicare.”
To download the registration form, click on the following link https://bit.ly/3FfJa8N.
Fellow Communicare team member, Anna Pilgrim, ran last September and says: “I signed up to set myself a challenge and to raise funds for Communicare. The event had an amazing atmosphere and the support of the marshals was fantastic too. I’d recommend it to anyone keen to get fit and get out of the house and to also do something wonderful for people who live in their neighbourhood.”
Anyone interested in signing up for the event or finding out more can do so here by calling 023 8250 0050 or by emailing events@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk or visiting www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.
