Race news: Asda Foundation Leeds 10K - Sunday, July 12, 2015
Thousands of runners of all ages will be pulling on their trainers this weekend for a festival of running in Leeds expected to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
The city’s streets will come alive on Sunday July 12th when a huge field will turn out for the ninth running of the Asda Foundation Leeds 10K, organised by Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All.
But the fun gets underway the day before when hundreds of youngsters will head to Leeds Dock to take part in the free-to-enter Arena Group Leeds Mini and Junior Run, one of the region’s biggest charity running events for children.
Suitable for children of all ages, the free-to-enter event includes a 1.5km mini run for children aged three to eight, while the 2.5km junior run is open to youngsters aged between nine and 14.
Many of those taking part will be running for the official partner charity, Sunshine and Smiles, a support network established in 2011 for children and young people who have Down Syndrome, and their families, in Leeds and the surrounding areas.
Mick Harrison, Group Service Director of Arena Group, which has supported Run For All mini and junior runs since 2010, said: “Leeds Dock is an exciting new venue for the event and look forward to seeing lots of children running for such a good cause.”
On Sunday the attention turns to the flagship Asda Foundation Leeds 10K, part of the lasting legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson CBE who raised almost £2m for charity through a series of endurance challenges, despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer. The run has raised well over £2.5m since it was first held in 2007.
Starting in Vicar Lane and finishing outside the Town Hall, the route takes in some of the city’s most historic landmarks.
The entrants include European featherweight boxing champion Josh Warrington, of Leeds, star of ITV’s Emmerdale Michelle Hardwick - Vanessa Woodfield in the popular ITV soap, teacher Matthew Burton , who shot to fame in Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire, Harry Potter actor Matthew Lewis, former Leeds United captain Brendon Ormsby, who suffered a stroke in 2013, Leeds Rhinos’ Jamie Peacock, part of the Run with the Rhinos team and over 30 staff and patients raising money Leeds General Infirmary’s Day One Trauma Appeal.
Leeds-based Asda will be fielding a team of over 450 runners. Julie Ward, Asda Foundation Manager, said: “There is always a fantastic atmosphere at the Leeds 10K so it’s not surprising that it is popular with so many people, including the many Asda colleagues who take part. Good luck to everyone.”
Among the thousands taking part will be hundreds of businessmen and running in the Clarion Leeds 10K Corporate Challenge – a race within a race – in which teams compete to lift the title of the fastest firm in the city.
Roger Hutton, Joint Managing Partner at Clarion, said: “There has been a tremendous response from the Leeds business community this year as we have hit record numbers for the Corporate Challenge. We would like to thank all the organisations that have entered and we wish everyone the best of luck on Sunday. There is always a great atmosphere on the day and a real buzz of friendly rivalry among teams, but most importantly we just want everyone to enjoy themselves whilst raising money for fabulous causes.”
Partner charities of the Asda Foundation Leeds 10K are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, The Haven, Macmillan Cancer Support, Martin House Children’s Hospice, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, St George’s Crypt, Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Mencap Leeds and Sue Ryder. People can, however, run for fun or to raise funds for any cause of their choice.
The event is supported by Asda Foundation, Leeds City Council, Clarion, Yorkshire Evening Post, Runner’s World, TheBusinessDesk.com, Heart, Run247, bananakick and LTS.
For more details and to sign up, go to www.runforall.com
