ORGANISERS of the fifth Balsall Common Fun Run have paid tribute to everyone who took part in a record-breaking event.
The fun run on Sunday (September 23) was organised by The Lily Mae Foundation for bereaved parents and their families.
Such families were among those taking part, in memory of their babies.
The fun run also raises money for the charity set up in memory of the organisers’ daughter Lily Mae Jackson, who was stillborn.
The Lily Mae Foundation offers support for parents who suffer a stillbirth or neonatal death.
The event saw over 700 runners take part with hundreds more spectators lining the streets of Balsall Common to cheer on their family members and friends who took on the 5km or 10km course.
Amy and Ryan Jackson said: “Following on from the success of the fun run in in the last four years, the trustees of the foundation, who are all volunteers, put in an enormous amount of time and hard work to make the fun run the best yet.
“The support from our volunteers leading up to and at the event was magnificent.
“The event really does pull the community together. The Balsall Common Fun Run is growing in stature and is regularly attracting more than 650 runners and walkers every year.
“With our new slogan ‘Walk, Jog, Run, Race’, 2018 was a record year for entrants with over 700 people taking part.
“The feedback that we have received from the runners, marshals and spectators, who lined the route or watched at the start and finish line at the Heart of England School, has been exceptionally positive.
“We have already been asked for the date for next year’s run. Without the support of the event’s sponsors it would not be possible to hold such a large-scale event”.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, director of sport and active communities, said: “We were delighted to support this year’s Balsall Common Fun Run and it was a fantastic day.
“Our team were at the event to meet people from the local community and there was a great buzz around the whole morning.
“We hope to see some of the runners who took part today at our new sports hub when it opens next year – and hopefully we can help them prepare for future events.”
These are: University of Warwick, Signarama Birmingham South (Signage Sponsor), NDS Tooling Solutions Ltd, Aquarius Interiors Ltd, EMBRACE, Kingsman Estate Agents, Heart of England School, Sainsbury’s, JP Conference and Events, Harper Fields Barchester Healthcare, The Brickmakers Arms, Prestige Sheldon, Mondelez International, Brothers Décor, AJ’s Classic Cakes and New Balance.
The winners were:
Adult male 10km: Andrew Crabtree in 35min 46sec
Adult female 10km: Vicki Bone in 43min 42sec
Adult male 5km: Andy Ryder in 19min 45sec
Adult female 5km: Rachel Burchell in 21min 14sec
Junior male 5km: Alex Adams in 18min 16sec
Junior female 5km: Nicola Macgilp in 24min 10sec
Team 10km: Kenilworth Runners
Team 5km: Embrace
Team junior 5km: Lily Mae Foundation
