Registration is now open for the Southend Half Marathon where the charity is asking participants to run 13.1 miles anywhere of their choice, in one or more runs, over the weekend of Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th June.
Once signed up, participants will receive an online fundraising page where they can share their running activity over the course of the weekend and ask family and friends to sponsor them to raise vital funds for Havens Hospices. Additionally, they will also be invited to join the charity’s Virtual Southend Half Marathon Facebook group where there will be training plans, nutritional and injury prevention advice. Once runners have completed their 13.1 miles they will receive a special commemorative medal.
Every person who registers will be supporting Havens Hospices which includes Fair Havens, Little Havens and The J’s. The local hospice charity cares for children, young people and adults living with complex or incurable conditions from across Essex.
This free, specialised care is there for as long as it’s needed, within the home and at the charity’s two hospices, but can only continue thanks to people’s kind donations and sponsorship, such as those raised through events like the Southend Half Marathon.
Jane Hopkins, Voluntary Income Team Leader and organiser of the event at Havens Hospices said: “Although we were hoping to be able to hold this event in the usual format this year, it just wasn’t possible with the continued uncertainly around mass participation events at this time. We came to the decision that instead of postpone the event for another year we would hold a virtual event so we can continue to raise vital funds for our care.
“To celebrate 25 years of the Southend Half Marathon we hope as many people as possible can join us and support the charity after a difficult year of fundraising. The Half Marathon was just one of our events that couldn’t go ahead last year and we estimate that the charity experienced a 41% decrease in fundraising income due to the cancellation of all our public events.
“Although we can’t all run together this year we hope that won’t stop everyone getting into the spirit of the Southend Half Marathon. Whether you’re running for fun, to remember a loved one or to achieve a personal best, every mile will be making such a difference to all the families we care for, ‘Making every day count’.”
Registration costs £16 per participant and to sign up visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/southendhalf. For more information email Jane Hopkins at jhopkins@havenshospices.org.uk or call 01702 221658.
Published 12th April 2021
