The next few months go into overdrive, with charity walks and runs taking place across the county. Whether you fancy getting covered in mud or showered with colour, there’s sure to be an event to suit you and your family.
Get muddy for riding centre
Perry Riding for the Disabled’s Much Wenlock-based Cavalier Centre is moving forward apace – and you can help raise funds for the project by taking part in Mudtastik, a 5 or 10k mud run across drops, tracks and pools. The run takes place on Sunday 3 April, starting from 10.30am at Chirbury Farm, Marchamley SY4 5LD, and features scrambles and swamps followed by cargo nets, tunnels and water slides. Visit cavaliercentre.org/mud-run for details.
Trail Run bigger than ever
Three local companies have sponsored an off-road run at Severn Valley Country Park to help make the event bigger than ever. The Severn Valley Trail Run will be held on Sunday 12 June and this year features a 10k route as well as the usual 5k, plus chip timing and medals for all finishers. Both routes take in woodlands, meadows and the banks of the Severn. WW! wildlife expert Ed Andrews of Shropshire Council is organising the run to raise funds towards managing the park. Ed says, “A massive thank-you to Stinkyink, an Alveley-based online retailer of printer cartridges, local estate agents Doolittle and Dalley and Go Outdoors in Kidderminster for sponsoring us. Entries are flying in and it should be a great day.” Call 01746 781192 or enter online at stuweb.co.uk/event/2338.
Games start with half marathon
Sunday 15 May sees the opening of the sports element of the Wenlock Olympian Games with the half marathon. It’s a challenging yet picturesque route from Much Wenlock to Ironbridge, through Benthall Wood and back to Much Wenlock via Broseley and Benthall Hall. Entry is limited to 500 runners and you can enter at wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk. The main Games weekend is 9 and 10 July and includes archery, hockey, fencing, football and badminton; once again the event is being opened by Olympian Jonathan Edwards (pictured presenting a half marathon medal).
Get a Stride on
You can now sign up for the Severn Stride to raise funds for Severn Hospice. The popular 17-mile walk returns on Saturday 23 April. Starting at the charity’s site in Apley Castle in Telford, the route will follow pavements and established footpaths before finishing at the Shrewsbury hospice in Bicton Heath. Walkers can leave their cars at the finishing point and catch a shuttle bus to the start, with Co-Op Funeral Care providing refreshments en route. Elodie Home of Severn Hospice says, “We’re delighted our Severn Stride is back for another year. The route is relatively flat and goes through some truly beautiful Shropshire countryside.”
Registration is £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for children. For details, visit severnhospice.org.uk or call 01952 221351.
Technicolour Telford
The first-ever Shropshire Colour Run in aid of Severn Hospice is proving popular; over 600 people signed up within the first few weeks of registration. Telford Town Park will be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour on Sunday 12 June when runners and walkers take part in the 5k run. Each runner will be given a white t-shirt and as they make their way round the course, marshals will be placed at points along the route to shower participants with as much colour as possible. Visit severnhospice.org.uk or call 01952 221351. Registration is £15 per adult, £35 for a family of four (two adults and two children), £5 per additional child, and under-fives are free.
Golden steps
This year marks the 50th Bridgnorth Walk, and it’s set to be a day to remember. The event which starts at 10am on Monday 30 June, now features electronic timing for all walkers – a far cry from the first Walk in 1967. The 22-mile senior route starts at the High Street and heads for Brown Clee before returning to Bridgnorth. The seven-mile junior walk starts at Ditton Priors Village Hall at 11am and heads for Brown Clee and back. Registration is £15 for senior walkers and free for juniors. Walkers can register by going to bridgnorthwalk.org or calling 01746 768281 – registration closes on Sunday 22 May.
The Walk’s organisers would love to hear from anyone who’d like to volunteer as a marshal or administrator – call 01746 762022. Any local businesses interested in sponsorship should call 01746 768281.
Race for Life
Cancer Research is challenging Shropshire women to choose their event – Race for Life 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy – and commit to taking part at Telford Town Park, Shrewsbury’s Quarry, or Weston Park. The 5k and 10k events in Telford take place on Sunday 22 May, the 5k event in Shrewsbury on Wednesday 15 June, and Pretty Muddy at Weston Park will take place on Saturday 30 April.
Emily Thompson of Cancer Research says, “Taking part is not about being fit or fast and participants can walk, jog, or run around the course. The atmosphere is incredibly supportive.”
Last year, 5,193 women took part in Race for Life across Shropshire and raised a fantastic £308,421. Register at raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.
