Ballymena Runners is asking you to cover 5 miles between Monday 1 June & Sunday 7 June and make a charitable donation to the Mae Murray Foundation!
People will know that all athletics events and races have been cancelled because of the covid-19 Pandemic. That included the popular Ballymena Runners Fairhill 5 Mile Road Race.
The race in previous years started in the centre of town, took runners towards Broughshane, through the Ecos, and back into town. This year Ballymena Runners had hoped for a new course starting and finishing in the Ballymena Showgrounds.
Like many Ballymena Runners events we had hoped for a fundraising element to the race.
All events in our annual calendar are offered to club members to nominate a charity to benefit from fundraising and promotion around the events, and the Fairhill Five would have provided a great opportunity to raise funds for a member chosen charity.
We know how tough the Covid-19 crisis has been on charities, so we felt that it would be a great idea to hold a virtual event around the date of the race to raise some funds for charity.”
The Club Committee had previously agreed to accept club runner Leon Dorrity’s nominated charity – the Mae Murray Foundation - which helps to allow people of all ages and abilities to take part in activities, experience the world, and enjoy friendship together in an inclusive environment.
The charity, which was set up by local woman Alix Crawford in memory of her mum Mae Murray; a former teacher at Larne Tech, supports people of all ages who are socially isolated and excluded as a result of disability, age, medical, sensory or undiagnosed condition. Starting with just 20 families in 2016, they now number over 600 families, from across Northern Ireland and thanks to their inclusive vison, they have spearheaded the introduction of beach wheelchairs to the province as well as miniature wheelchairs for disabled infants and other innovative projects. You can find more information on the website www.maemurrayfoundation.org/about/
Ballymena Runners club member Leon Dorrity, who chose the Mae Murray Foundation said:
“I didn't know Mae, but I became aware of the charity and the work they do when my son was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
The Foundation seek to ensure that people with additional care requirements are considered in all leisure and social settings. Since ‘lockdown’ they quickly converted their activities to an online format and have a range of events every day on Facebook live, as well as teenage events using video conferencing.”
The Race Director for the 2020 event, Eugene Reid, said:
“Obviously we are all hugely disappointed that we had to cancel this year’s race, but we felt that we had to do what is right for the health and safety of everyone involved and what is best for our town. Since then all our members have been following Government and PHA guidance around exercising and social distancing.
“This week’s ‘virtual event’ is an opportunity for our members, and their friends and families, to keep active (and exercising in line with relevant social distancing rules) and make a donation to a great local charity.”
“We invite members to cover five miles, either in one run or over a combination of runs/walks, during next week Monday 1 June to Sunday 7 June, and then donate to our just giving page.
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ballymena-runners-brac