Safe Families for Children UK has been announced as one of the headline sponsors at Colourama, the colour fun run in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Peter Vardy, Safe Families for Children UK aims to prevent children from needlessly having to be taken into the care system.
The charity is supporting Colourama, a 5km run in Durham, where participants are covered from head-to-toe in powdered paint along the route.
Sir Peter said: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring Colourama which raises money for such a deserving cause. There are many synergies between our charities. St Cuthbert’s steps in to help families during life’s tough times, and so do we, so it is the perfect event for us to get involved in.
“Not only are we sponsoring the run to help make it bigger and better than ever, but a team from Safe Families is taking part.”
Last year’s Colourama, held at St Leonards Playing Field, County Hall, Durham, attracted 1,500 walkers and runners. But, this time round, organisers are aiming for 2,000 participants, with the extra addition of obstacles to jump or climb over, or scramble under.
Participants start in white St Cuthbert’s t-shirts, finishing covered in rainbow hues.
Sheela Joy, Senior Fundraiser at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, said: “We’re very grateful to our sponsors for helping us to run what is fast becoming one of the most important events, and the most fun, in our fundraising calendar.
“We need to find £1.3m every year, with money raised during Colourama going to help us maintain our services, which include an in-patient unit and a day hospice.”
Durham-headquartered Safe Families has helped more than 1,400 children, along with recruiting and training more than 2,500 volunteers. The aim is to help thousands more children through the recruitment of a network of 100,000 volunteers.
Safe Families, which is currently working with 20 local authorities across the country, recruits and trains three types of volunteer to help deliver support: 1) Host Families who look after a child overnight for a couple of days to a couple of weeks, 2) Family Friends who befriend, mentor and support parents through difficult times and 3) Resource Friends who supply a wide range of goods and services the family needs.
The aim is to step in quickly at the start of any problems a family is facing, with support to help parents cope, to ensure children are able to stay at home in a safer, happier environment.
Colourama takes place on June 4th.
http://www.stcuthbertshospice.
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