RUNNERS PUT A SPRING IN THEIR STEP FOR CHARITY

The recent spell of blue skies and sunshine has put the spring back into the runners training schedules for the forthcoming Mulberry Bush Montessori Balfron 10K.

The race, recently voted the number one 10K in Scotland, by the readers of a national running magazine, takes place at Balfron Campus on Sunday 25th April at 11am.

The race entry fees and sponsorship has raised over £21,000 for Balfron High School and Balfron Primary School, in the last three years. But runners are raising additional funds for a variety of their favourite charities.

Mairi Clark, the main sponsor of the 2010 10K and Managing Director of the Mulberry Bush Montessori explained ”Last year my staff and I ran the10K and thoroughly enjoyed the day. It’s a real community event with an electric atmosphere. Parents of the Montessori children in both the Killearn and Glasgow locations wanted to add their commitment to the race this year and make it a real Mulberry Bush Montessori team event  – so we are all running for SSAFA and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Foundation Scotland. This endorses my personal and professional commitment to an active healthy lifestyle for all”.

Meanwhile the race has attracted the attention of Glasgow based Creative Design Agency reflex blue. Colin Docherty, the Managing Director has encouraged his employees to get in training for the big day. Colin said “The whole company has entered the 10K so there is no going back. I ran the race last year and raised over £1500 for Quarriers and although I was not the fastest it was certainly the most enjoyable 10K that I have ever completed. It’s the first 10K race for many of the staff here so there is more than a bit of competition in the office. I haven’t told them about that wee hill at the 7km point yet. “ Colin and his reflex blue team are running for Rhian Dallachy of Drymen who receives respite care at Countryview at Quarriers in Bridge of Weir.

Colin Mendham Race Director said, “ The response to the race has been fantastic again and entries are coming in thick and fast. We are on target to having around 600 runners on the day. Entries are coming in from all over and we even have an entry from Dubai – a Scot who has been working over there for 12 years is returning to set up home in the area. Although he’ll be running in cooler climes he saw the race on line and wants to sample the local atmosphere of the 10K  – he is running for Diabetes UK. And a little nearer home, three members of the Reid family from Balfron are raising valuable funds for CLIC Sargent, the first of eight challenging events they will carry out in 2010.”

But a single outstanding effort by Terry Wright of Ayr has put running for charity in a league of his own. Terry is running 1000 kilometres this year for MENCAP and Help the Heroes. In addition to running the Mulberry Bush Montessori Balfron 10k in April his schedule will include running ten 10K’s, ten half marathons, a duathlon, a kilo-athlon, a Highland Games 10k in a kilt, the Eden Project Marathon and as a festive treat – a Santa Dash, a Reindeer Run and to finish off a Turkey Trot – all adding up to 1000 kilometres on the road.

The main sponsor of the event is Mulberry Bush Montessori, with support from Careth Ltd, Endrick Property, Steven Burgess Fine Furniture, The Beech Tree Inn, Graham’s Dairy, CKD Galbraith, The Running Company, Balfron Campus, Webreturn Internet, D McCallum & Son and many other local sponsors.

Demand for places on the 10K is expected to be high, so early entry is recommended. Enter on line now and check out the website for full details at www.balfron10k.org.uk