Rallying call for Rotherham to get “Fighting Fit”

ROTHERHAM, this is your rallying call.
Age UK Love Later Life run to be staged at Clifton Park in May, (from left to right), Ray Matthews, Wendy Whitaker, Rotherham Harriers, Sam Cooper and Andrew Mosley, Rotherham, Advertiser and Julie Benson, fundraising co-ordinator for Age UK Rotherham. 170397-1Age UK Love Later Life run to be staged at Clifton Park in May, (from left to right), Ray Matthews, Wendy Whitaker, Rotherham Harriers, Sam Cooper and Andrew Mosley, Rotherham, Advertiser and Julie Benson, fundraising co-ordinator for Age UK Rotherham. 170397-1
Age UK Love Later Life run to be staged at Clifton Park in May, (from left to right), Ray Matthews, Wendy Whitaker, Rotherham Harriers, Sam Cooper and Andrew Mosley, Rotherham, Advertiser and Julie Benson, fundraising co-ordinator for Age UK Rotherham. 170397-1

After years of negativity, it’s time to get our town back on the map — for the right reasons.

And what better way to do that than to celebrate our fantastic borough by lacing up our running shoes and all coming together in our award-winning park.

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The Advertiser, as part of our Fighting Fit campaign, has teamed up with charity Age UK to back its Love Later Life Run, which will take place in Clifton Park in May.

Together with the charity, Rotherham Harriers and inspirational marathon man Ray Matthews, we hope to make the event an annual date in Rotherham’s calendar.

We want it to be a celebration of everything positive in our town but the only way we can do that is if YOU answer our rallying call and come on down to Clifton Park on Sunday, May 7, and make the event a success.

As well as a 5km race — three laps around the park — which will get underway at around 11.15am, there will also be a fun run — one lap around the park — which will start at 10.30am.

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But it is not the running that will be the most important part of the day — we want the event to unite our town.

The Deputy Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Eve Rose Keenan, has given her backing to the event and Harworth Brass Band will perform in the park’s bandstand while Rotherham African Drummers will help keep the crowds entertained.

NOW is the time for us to come together as a town and we think that lacing up our running shoes is a great way to do it.

We launched our Fighting Fit campaign due to higher than national average levels of obesity in the town, so let’s kill two birds with one stone and get off our backsides and come together.

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Ray (75), who completed 75 marathons in 75 days to celebrate his 75th birthday last year, said he hoped the event would bring athletes and the community together.

“This race should be the start of something special,” he added.

“I’m 75 and have just done all this, so there are no excuses for people not coming down on the day — they don’t even have to run the whole distance.

“Let’s come together and celebrate our town.”

Rotherham Titans and Rotherham United have both given their backing to the event and club mascots Kronos and Miller Bear will be lacing up their running shoes.

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If you’re a charity looking to hold a stall at the event, contact Julie Benson, fundraising officer at Age UK, and let’s get people talking about our town for the right reasons.

Julie said: “I think the event is going to be fun and I think it’s going to be great for Rotherham.

“We want to put something on the map that celebrates Rotherham for the right reasons.”

Entry costs £6 per person for the 5km race and £3 per person for the fun run, if booked before April 16.

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Places booked after this date will cost £8 for the 5km race and £4 for the fun run.

All proceeds will go to Age UK Rotherham and runners can be sponsored to run to raise money for either Age UK Rotherham or a charity of their choice.

For more information or to enter either race visit www.ageuk.org.uk/rotherham.