Schools Half Marathon by UK Run Events has been awarded a ‘Get Telford Active’ Community Events Grant from Telford and Wrekin Council.

Telford and Wrekin CouncilUK Run Events, the organiser of Schools Half Marathon, was one of 20 successful ‘Get Telford Active’ projects to receive this one-off award from the council. The Get Telford Active Grant Scheme aims to create new community-led activities and help more people, typically those who aren’t involved in a particular sport or regular activity, to have a go in mass participation events.

As a non-competitive and inclusive initiative, Schools Half Marathon was well placed to receive the funding as it introduces exercise into the routine of primary school age children through a mile a week, or a mile a day, for 12 miles. This culminates in an organised event for the final 1.1 miles, resulting in a Half Marathon achievement for the children aged 4-11.

The Telford and Wrekin Primary Schools Half Marathon takes place at Oakengates Athletic Track on 15th June and over 240 children are already confirmed for this exciting last leg of their challenge. On race day they will be treated to a full race experience, including bibs, a marshalled 1.1-mile route, music, commentator and a finish line gantry. As they cross the finish line the children will receive a well-earned medal and be able to celebrate the fantastic achievement of running their very own half marathon.

The Community Events Grant from Telford and Wrekin Council is the first grant that UK Run Events has applied for with Schools Half Marathon. The grant will fund a further 400 places for the Telford and Wrekin Primary Schools Half Marathon this summer, and UK Run Events is working with the Council to offer the funded places out to schools in the area.

Participating schools already confirmed for the Telford and Wrekin Primary Schools Half Marathon include William Reynolds Primary School, Redhill Primary Academy, John Fletcher of Madeley Primary School, St Lawrence CE Primary School, Wrockwardine Wood Junior School, St Matthew’s CE Primary School, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary and Tibberton CE Primary School.

Shropshire Primary Schools Half Marathon ChallengeThe first official Schools Half Marathon took place in June 2018 in Shropshire as part of Shrewsbury Half Marathon weekend. Schools Half Marathon is now a stand-alone event and part of the nationwide Schools Running Movement by UK Run Events. The 2019 Shropshire Primary Schools Half Marathon welcomed 1,800 children from 32 schools, and further events taking place in 2019 include Telford & Wrekin (15th June), Brighton and Hove (22nd June), Stockport (1st July) and West Sussex (14th July).

Schools Half Marathon Race Director Joe Williams commented, “We are thrilled to receive the Community Events Grant for Schools Half Marathon from Telford and Wrekin Council. The funding will enable many children who would not have otherwise been able to take part in the Telford and Wrekin Primary Schools Half Marathon to now do so. We are grateful for the support from the Council and for the very positive response that we have received from sports businesses and the running industry. For children as young as 4 through to 11 years old, Schools Half Marathon is a great way to get kids outside, away from screens, taking part in a fun, shared activity with an exciting end goal of helping develop life changing habits towards regular exercise.”

Liz Noakes, Director of Public Health at Telford and Wrekin Council, added, “This year will be an exciting time for people in Telford as community groups, like Schools Half Marathon, have been provided with grants to hold more than 20 events and activities especially designed to help inactive people develop a love for activity. Each event has been developed by people in communities directly for the residents around them, providing exactly what’s needed for each unique area. There will be something for everyone from BMX sessions, to gentle walks, couch to 5k sessions and many other types of activity. We are very lucky to have many passionate people in our communities, volunteers who want to make a difference to where we live, and work with us to create a better borough. I’m looking forward to a year of people from all over Telford and Wrekin joining in and getting active, together.”

The Telford and Wrekin Primary Schools Half Marathon Challenge takes place at Oakengates Athletics Track, home of Telford Athletics Club, on Saturday 15th June at 9am. Friends, family and supporters are welcome to cheer on the young runners.

Any school wishing to find out more or register for the Schools Half Marathon can do so on the event website www.schoolshalfmarathon.co.uk/event-directory, or by emailing info@schoolshalfmarathon.co.uk.

Schools Half MarathonGo to www.schoolshalfmarathon.co.uk for further details, like UK Run Events on Facebook and follow @ukrunevents on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest news #SchoolsHalfMarathon.

Go to www.telford.gov.uk/getactivegrant to find out more about the ‘Get Telford Active’ Grant Funding from Telford and Wrekin Council.