A group of 24 runners is set to take part in this year’s Prince Bishops Durham City Runs to support the work of Durham-based charity St Cuthbert’s Hospice. The St Cuthbert’s runners will be lacing up their trainers to take on the 5k and 10k runs this Thursday, 25 July, to raise funds for the charity which supports local people with life limiting illnesses. The two races are the opening events of the first ever three-day Durham City Run Festival. Organised by Events of the North and Durham County Council, the festival will be held from 25-27 July.
The St Cuthbert’s running team comprises of runners of varying abilities, 22 of whom will compete in the 5k race, with two taking on the 10k course through the city centre’s cobbled streets and undulating roads. Six of the runners secured official charity places offered to members of the organisation’s weekly running club, St Cuthbert’s Champions, and are tasked with raising a minimum of £100 each.
St Cuthbert’s Champions was established in March 2018 to take staff, volunteers and members of the local community through the couch to 5k. It now boasts around 50 members and is ran by three trained run leaders who aim to create a welcoming and fun environment to encourage people of all abilities to enjoy running.
Kay Carrick, Senior Donor Development Fundraiser at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, says: “Durham City Run Festival is the perfect fundraising opportunity for St Cuthbert’s Hospice. We are located just three miles from the city centre and are incredibly grateful to be so well supported by our local community. This is the first time we have sought runners to fundraise for us at the festival and to have secured six runners has been great. If they all raise their target of £100 sponsorship they will have raised enough to pay for a full day of counselling provided by our Family Support Team who support both adults and children to cope with the loss of a loved one.”
St Cuthbert’s Hospice provides a wide range of end of life, health and wellbeing services for local people affected by life-limiting illnesses. Support services include palliative care, day services through The Living Well Centre, family support, children’s bereavement and dementia.
The Durham City Run Festival will take over the centre of Durham and the Gala Theatre between Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 July and will feature films, talks, book signings, a running expo, free running activities, a new mile challenge called ‘Run Like a Legend’, and the well-established Prince Bishops 5k and 10k runs. Places at all of the paid for events at the Durham City Run Festival can be booked at www.durhamcityrun.com. The website includes a full programme of festival events that can be downloaded onto a laptop or mobile device.
To support the St Cuthbert’s Hospice runners in their fundraising bid visit: https://www.stcuthbertshospice.com/donate and reference Durham City Run Sponsorship.
For further information about the St Cuthbert’s Champions visit: https://groups.runtogether.co.uk/StCuthbertsChampions