A Birmingham 5K charity fun run has been given an Olympic-sized boost by a gold medal winning British hockey player. Lily Owsley will be the official starter for “Bud’s Run”, a family-friendly event being held at the University of Birmingham on Sunday 9th October.
Lily was part of Great Britain’s victorious women’s hockey team at the Rio Olympics this summer. Currently studying Sports Science at the University of Birmingham, she is a keen supporter of this popular event which is in aid of Parkinson’s UK. Lily said:
“I’m honoured to be supporting and running Bud’s Run this year. A 5k run is no mean feat, but it is something that nearly everyone can do – no matter how long it takes. It’s amazing how much this event has raised for charity already, so please come along and have fun whilst raising money and awareness of a great cause. There’s still time to enter at www.budsrun.co.uk.”
Along with the 5K, there will be a fun run for kids, raffle, sports masseur on hand, bacon sarnies, and plenty of tea, coffee and cake. They’ll also be an opportunity to hear from athletes Sara Treacy and Alison Leonard in an informal Q & A session after the run.
Now in its third successful year, Bud’s Run has already raised over £42,000 for Parkinson’s UK. It was the idea of long-time University of Birmingham athletics coach Bud Baldaro. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009, Bud’s determined to use his love of running to help fund research into this long-term condition.
Bud said: “It’s exciting be involved with the third Bud’s Run on behalf of Parkinson’s UK, and we hope to have even more participants involved this year. Please do your best to support us. You’ll find all the details at www.budsrun.co.uk.”
In his long and successful career, Bud has coached hundreds of runners of all ages and abilities. They include Rio Olympics 3000m finalist Sara Treacy, and 2011 World Championships 1500m silver medallist Hannah England – both of whom will be there on the day.
Recently Bud was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award by “Runner’s World” magazine for his services to the sport. The award was collected by Jane Hansom, who said:
“Bud turned me from a slow plodder into a sub-three hour marathoner, and changed my life in the process. For that I am eternally grateful.”
Aidan Wheeler, Birmingham Store Manager at Up and Running, said: “Up and Running Birmingham is proud to be a supporter of Bud’s Run 2016. As a company we value the contribution the event makes to the local running community, whilst at the same time raising funds and awareness for an important charity, Parkinson’s UK. We are very much looking forward to this year’s event and making it the best Bud’s Run there has been. See you at the start line!”
Neil Rudge, Community Regeneration Manager said, “Carillion is proud to support the 5k Bud’s Run around the University of Birmingham historic Edgbaston campus where we have completed the world class Library development and are in the process of constructing an exciting student residence due to open in September 2017. We are supporting the run in aid of Parkinson’s UK for the second successive year and our team are looking to win the team Corporate Challenge for the third time.”
For more information on Bud’s Run and to enter the run, please visit www.budsrun.co.uk.
