City fundraiser is now official sporting event

Neurocare’s annual Head Start 10K race around Rother Valley Country Park has become an officially recognised sports event and will now offer official chip timings for all runners taking part this year for the first time.

Organisers from the neurosurgical charity are hoping the opportunity for serious runners to try for ‘personal best’ times will help them attract well over the previous record of 500 people to the 10K race, held on Sunday April 17.

And with fancy dress competitions, dog walking routes and a mini space hopper race for the tiny tots, they’re also hoping to get plenty of people along to take part in the event’s 5K too.

Neurocare director Liz Barran said: “This year’s race promises to be bigger and better than ever before. This year it is chip timed, so with the addition of the super flat course, it will be perfect for the serious runners to get personal best times.

“We are also cranking up the fun element of the day, with the 5k race which is open, not only to the serious runners, but to younger people wanting to join in and make a difference.

“We will be joined by supporters from across Yorkshire for this family fun-filled event and will be kept entertained by our wonderful compare, so come along, run, walk - and now even bounce! - in the Neurocare Head Start to raise awareness and funds for this important local charity.”

It is the seventh year the event has been held in the city and, once again, it is being sponsored by Sheffield business turnaround and insolvency specialists Wilson Field, which have backed the race since it began in 2009, allowing the charity to put all race donations towards a variety of life-saving medical projects.

Phil Meekin from Wilson Field said: “We are delighted that our support of this great charity has enabled Neurocare to raise more than £65,000 towards lifesaving projects since it began and now to see it is registered as an official race - which will attract a greater number of runners.

“Neurological disorders and traumas are still incredibly complex cases to treat and supporting development of this branch of medical science can only help our understanding and successful treatment of those disorders.”

Visit www.neurocare.org.uk if you would like to register for the race or for further information. Alternatively, contact Sophie Thomas on [email protected] or call 0114 267 6464.