Race news: The Asda Foundation Hull 10K - Sunday, June 14, 2015
Hull City Tigers stars ensured the 2015 Asda Foundation Hull 10k got off to a roaring start when they helped launch the showpiece event. Thousands of runners and spectators will transform the city’s streets into a sea of colour when they line up for the run, now in its sixth year, on Sunday June 14th.
Organised by Jane Tomlinson‘s Run For All, the event has established itself as one of the region’s best-loved charity runs, raising well over £600,000 since its launch in 2010.
The route starts and finishes in the city centre on Alfred Gelder Street and takes in the waterfront, marina, The Deep sea life visitor attraction and other Hull landmarks.
Last year’s event attracted a record entry of over 5,000 people and it is hoped a similar number will take place this June.
Hull City FC’s Mohamed Diame helped to officially open entries on Tuesday 17th February. He said: “It really is inspiring that so many people are prepared to take on the 10K in aid of some wonderful causes. We are delighted to play a part in today’s launch for the 2015 run and urge as many people as possible to sign up. It’s sure to be a great day for all those involved.”
Event lead Charlie Tatman said: “The Hull 10K has rightly become one of the best-loved events in the sporting calendar with people returning year after year to support the event. We’re looking forward to another really exciting year.”
Julie Ward, of the Asda Foundation, which supports the Run For All 10K series, said: “We look forward to seeing thousands of people, including many of our Asda Colleagues, on the start line for what we are sure will be a super day that will benefit many worthy charities.”
The field will also include hundreds of businessmen and women running in the KC Hull 10K Corporate Challenge – a race within a race – in which teams compete to lift the title of the fastest firm in the city. The times of the first three team members home are used to award the trophies and prizes.
Brendon Smurthwaite, KC’s Community Coodinator, said: “It’s great to be involved in the corporate challenge for a third successive year and it’s very encouraging to see firms already coming forward to snap up a place. It brings an added dimension to the event and is a great opportunity for companies to promote team bonding and engage in a bit of friendly rivalry whilst raising money for very worthy causes.”
Among the guests at the launch were staff from law firm Rollits, winners of last year’s corporate challenge in a time of 42:30.
The Hull 10K 2015 was launched in the same week it was announced that the Jane Tomlinson Appeal – the charity which runs the event – has raised an amazing £7.6m for good causes since it was established by the late fundraisers of the same name.
Along with the Asda Foundation Hull 10K, Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All’s stable of events includes 10Ks in Leeds, York, Pennine-Lancashire and Lincoln, the Leeds Half Marathon and the Yorkshire Half Marathon-Sheffield.
Its sister organisation also runs the hugely-popular Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon.
People taking part can run for one of the event’s partner or support a good cause of their own choice. The partner charities are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Hull and East Riding (HER) Breast Friends, CLIC Sargent, Candlelighters, Dove House Hospice, Echoes Foundation, Hull Children’s University, Macmillan Cancer Support, Martin House Children’s Hospice and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Among those attending today’s launch was Sara Marsh, from Hull, whose family was helped by Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters after her son Ben, 11, was diagnosed with leukaemia. She said: “When Ben was first diagnosed it was a scary and overwhelming experience for all of us. Candlelighters has been there for our family from the start, at the hospital and when we were home. They even sent us on a holiday when Ben was well enough. I’m urging people to join Team Candlelighters to help them support more families like ours.”
Noemie Salvaudon, of Candlelighters, said: “The Hull 10K is a key event for Candlelighters. The funds raised help them support families in Hull and across the region, through giving out grants, offering free holidays and funding staff and equipment at the hospital.” To join Team Candlelighters call 0113 887 8333 or visit www.candlelighters.org.uk.
Gemma Cross, events fundraiser at Martin House Children’s Hospice, said: “Thank you and good luck to everyone running the Hull 10K as part of Team Martin House. Your support is much appreciated and makes a real difference.”
Andy Pierce, Yorkshire Cancer Research events manager, said: “We’re really excited to be a charity partner for the Hull 10K once again this year. It’s been great to watch the race become such a popular event in Yorkshire’s running calendar. We’re hoping that more people than ever will join in the fun and raise vital funds to help us prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire.”
Pam Trays, a trustee HER Breast Friends, said: “We are very proud to be an official charity partner for the 2015 Hull 10k. Celebrating our 10th year supporting local people affected by breast cancer, we really do try to make a difference, encouraging a positive approach to living with the disease. If you would like to run, jog or walk on our behalf we would be extremely grateful.” For more information call 01482 221368 or visit www.herbreastfriends.org.uk
Amanada Ashburner, fundraising coordinator at Dove House Hospice, said: “We are proud to be a partner charity of the Asda Foundation Hull 10k again this year. Over 160 runners took part on behalf of Dove House last year and a whopping £20,000 was raised, which will enable Dove House Hospice to continue to provide not only specialist medical care but also special care to adults in Hull and East Yorkshire living with a life-limiting illness. We would like to thank all those that ran for us last year and hope you will join us again this year, and we hope to see many more new faces too for 2015.”
Becky Baynes, Macmillan Cancer Support Fundraising Manager for Hull, said: “Hull is a fantastic city and the people always bring a warm atmosphere to events. We’re delighted to be continuing our involvement as charity partner in this brilliant 10K run. Macmillan invested over £2.15 million in North and East Yorkshire in 2013 on new services to support cancer patients and their families, but each day a staggering 25 people in the county hear the devastating news they have cancer. Now more than ever we need people to join Team Macmillan.”
Siobhan Curtis, Jane Tomlinson Appeal legacy manager, said: “The Asda Foundation Hull 10K always generates a wonderful atmosphere. Good luck to all those taking part, who I’m sure will have a super day and have the added satisfaction of supporting some excellent causes.”
The event is sponsored by Asda Foundation, Hull City Council, KC, MKM Building Supplies, Arco, Runner’s World, Hull Daily Mail, Viking FM, Run247 and BananaKick.
To enter the Asda Foundation Hull 10K and for more information about Run For All events go to www.runforall.com
