Running event boosts coffers of two vital Wiltshire charities

Organisers of the annual Dauntsey 10k run have raised almost £5,000 for two vital Wiltshire charities.

This year’s event raised £4713 which will be shared between Prospect Hospice and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.  This is the third year that Swindon running club Slinn Allstars have organised the Dauntsey 10k event, which takes place in May each year.

The cash was presented to both charities by event organiser Joel Thomson of Swindon Running Club, Slinn Allstars.

Joel said: “We are absolutely delighted with the amount of money we have managed to raise with this event.  On behalf of Slinn Allstars running club I’d like to thank everyone who was involved in this race, either as a sponsor, runner, marshal, volunteer or spectator.  In particular I’d like to thank the sponsors because without their support it would not be possible to run such a successful event. This year’s sponsors included Constructor Group, Acorn Press, Burkert, G.Guest and P.Fiore, Space Group, Green Square Energy, Watson Fuels, The H R Department, Nickel Design, Mercedes Benz of Swindon.”

Dauntsey 10k is a well-established race in the Wiltshire running calendar.  Slinn Allstars have been responsible for organising the race since 2015 and each year have donated the proceeds of the event to charity.  In total the event has raised nearly £9000 for good causes.

Hollie Perryman, Donor Relationship Assistant at Wiltshire Air Ambulance said: “It was lovely to be part of the day and our mascot, Wilber, also enjoyed the event. It was fantastic to see the support from runners, spectators and everyone involved on the day.

“We are extremely grateful to Joel Thomson for the Dauntsey 10k’s ongoing support for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The funds raised will help to keep our helicopter and crew flying and saving lives. We are a charity that relies almost entirely on public donations and it costs £3.25 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying.”

Genevieve Arney, Events and Community Fundraising Manager at Prospect Hospice said: “We are so pleased to have been one of the Dauntsey 10K’s chosen charities again this year, and their continued support means a lot to us. The funds raised from this brilliant event will go towards providing end-of-life care both at our hospice in Wroughton, and out in the community, and without amazing events like this we wouldn’t be able to provide the care that we do here.”

Next year’s Dauntsey 10k will take place on Sunday 27 May 2018 and the race will open for entries later this year.

Slinn Allstars Running Club has around 260 members and welcomes runners of all abilities for fitness, fun and friendship.  The club organises running courses for complete beginners from its base at St John’s Hall in Haydon Wick.  The next 10 week Beginners Course starts on Tuesday 12 September at 6.15pm.  For more information see www.slinnallstars.co.uk/beginners