Tuesday, 27 May 2008

The 2008 Fun Run is expected to raise almost £20,000

Planning for the July presentation evening, when donations are made to the beneficiaries of the 2008 Fun Run, is well advanced. The organisers, the Rotary Club of Sawston District, are keen to receive all the sponsorship funds as soon as possible. Over £7,000 is expected to come from entrants over the next four weeks, as this was the total of pledges made by them on 27th April.

The event attracted 1,160 runners and walkers, the largest number of entries ever, so the amount raised by them will probably be the highest too when all the funds become available said Tony Collett, chairman of the organising committee. ‘With such large numbers and with the donations from the street collection and the raffle etc it is possible that the final amount raised from this year’s event will be close to £20,000’ said Tony. This would take the cumulative amount raised to over £300,000 since the first event in 1986 – an amazing achievement.


Hundreds of photos are available of the event and costs start as low as £5 – they can be seen and bought from http://www.davecarterphotography.co.uk/

The four major beneficiaries this year will be:
· Cambridge Cancer Help Centre Unit - to help fund the new counselling and support centre being built in Great Shelford at Scotsdales Garden Centre.
· Addenbrookes Prostate Cancer Unit - to help purchase key equipment to fight this disease.
· Magpas - to help buy specialist medical equipment for roadside accidents.
· Teenage Cancer Trust - to help fund the new 12 bed teenage cancer unit to be built at Addenbrookes Hospital - adding to the £5,000 already donated from the 2005 event.

Other organisations to benefit will be:
· 1st Sawston Scouts - to purchase camping equipment for the scouts cubs and beavers.
· Sawston Youth Drama - to purchase modern sound equipment.
· Sawston Youth Group - to help purchase equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
· South Cambs. Riding for the Disabled - to pay for the hire of ponies for one year.
· Pippins Pre-school - to help with the development of outdoor facilities.

David Morris, President of the Rotary Club of Sawston District, said ‘We are pleased that so many people in the community value the event and are clearly willing to get involved in many different ways. It makes everyone’s efforts so worthwhile and of course local charities are the real beneficiaries’.

Friday, 2 May 2008

Pictures from the 2008 event

Pictures from the 2008 event can be viewwed at http://www.davecarterphotography.co.uk/.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Record levels reached at the 2008 event

Many records were broken at this year’s Sawston Fun Run, organised by the Rotary Club of Sawston District, held on Sunday 27th April at Sawston Village College.

Over 400 turned up to enter on the day adding to those who had previously registered resulting in 1,160 pounding the streets of Sawston to raise cash for local charities and organisations.

The unprecedented flow of entrants combined with record proceeds from the giant raffle and tombola raising over £2,000 and a further £1,000 from the street collection all make the Rotary Club being very confident that at least £16,000 plus will be the final amount raised for this year’s charities and organisations.

The inclusion of the new Cancer Help Centre at Shelford, the new Teenage Cancer Trust ward and the Prostate Cancer unit at Addenbrookes Hospital prompted many extra people to apply to what is the largest community-led event in Cambridgeshire.

The start was led by over 40 members of SYD [Sawston Youth Drama group] who were dressed in Wizard of Oz costumes to promote their forthcoming show closely followed by the Fire Service who collected money in buckets and helmets. With the Sawston Youth Group band playing in the centre of the village and over 1,000 spectators around the streets it had all the ingredients of a street carnival.

The four major beneficiaries this year will be:
• Cambridge Cancer Help Centre Unit - to help fund the new counselling and support centre being built in Great Shelford at Scotsdales Garden Centre.
• Addenbrookes Prostate Cancer Unit - to help purchase key equipment to fight this disease.
• Magpas - to help buy specialist medical equipment for roadside accidents.
• Teenage Cancer Trust - to help fund the new 12 bed teenage cancer unit to be built at Addenbrookes Hospital - adding to the £5,000 already donated from the 2005 event.

Other organisations to benefit will be:
• 1st Sawston Scouts - to purchase camping equipment for the scouts cubs and beavers.
• Sawston Youth Drama - to purchase modern sound equipment.
• Sawston Youth Group - to help purchase equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
• South Cambs. Riding for the Disabled - to pay for the hire of ponies for one year.
• Pippins Pre-school - to help with the development of outdoor facilities.

David Morris, President of the Rotary Club of Sawston District, said ‘We are thrilled that we were able to attract so many as it will mean that our fund raising target will be exceeded and reflects just how much the community welcomes this annual event. We could not possibly organise the event without the support of many others especially the main sponsor Cambridge Building Society and the Excell Group plc; Haart Estate Agents; Spicers Ltd; Vindis Sawston, Webb & Partners, solicitors; Sawston Parish Council and Sawston Village College’.

NST Travel, the Marshall Group and Waitrose donated major prizes for the raffle as did all the retailers and businesses from Sawston and the surrounding villages who also play their part too by donating for the raffle or tombola.

Sunday, 20 April 2008

Sawston Fun Run

In aid of nine local charities and organisations

Being a runner, walker, donor, supporter or by buying a raffle ticket will make a real difference to those helped by this year’s charities and organisations.

The major ones are:

• Cambridge Cancer Help Centre Unit - to help fund the new counselling and support centre in Great Shelford at Scotsdales Garden Centre. The centre will provide help, encouragement and a range of complementary therapies to people with cancer and their carers.

• Addenbrookes Prostate Cancer Unit
Prostate cancer is one of biggest causes of death in males in the UK with 35,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. Addenbrookes Hospital is the leading treatment centre in the region and a major research centre. The donation will go to help buy highly specialised equipment to treat the disease.

• Magpas - to help buy specialist equipment for the Emergency Medical Team. The medical kit enables essential fluids to be injected directly into the bone and can make a real difference in life or death situations at roadside accidents. Last year the team was called out 476 times.

• Teenage Cancer Trust at Addenbrookes
The donation will go towards the appeal fund to build a dedicated unit for teenage cancer patients. The unit will allow them to be treated in surroundings that will help improve survival rates and the quality of care. The Fun Run made an initial contribution of £ 5,000 in 2005.

Smaller donations will be made to five other local organisations:

• 1st Sawston Scouts - for camping equipment for the scouts cubs and beavers.

• Sawston Youth Drama - to purchase modern sound equipment.

• Sawston Youth Group - for equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

• South Cambs. Riding for the Disabled - to pay for the hire of ponies for one year.

• Pippins Pre-school - to help with the development of outdoor facilities.


Target for our fund raising at least £15,000 - expectations £16/17,000

Timetable - key dates and times

Before the day

• Closing date for postal entries……………………… April 21st
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On the 27th April

• Car parking opens..............................8.45

• Registration Office opens for entries..........9.00

• Car park access closes.........................9.45

• Fancy Dress competition........................9.50

• Closure & control of 4 roads into Sawston......10.00

• Public address system moves off site...........10.10

• Registration for entries closes................10.20

• Start of Walkers...............................10.20

• Start of main race.............................10.30

• Raffle draw of major prizes....................11.30

• Presentation of trophies................approx.11.45

• Roads re-opened................................12.00

• Event closes...................................12.15
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Closing date for receipt of sponsorship money June 30th
Cheques payable to ‘Sawston Fun Run Appeal’



Presentation of donations to charities July 9th