Fundraisers certainly hit the ground running at this year’s Tamworth Gate Gallop – with the event raising an amazing £7,600 for St Giles Hospice.
The popular annual family event, organised by Tamworth running group the Peel Road Runners, gives people of all ages and abilities the chance to enjoy a great day out while raising cash to support the work of St Giles. This year’s run took place on Sunday, June 30
Organizer Zoe Schnepp said: “Putting together an event like Tamworth Gate Gallop can be a real whirlwind of activity but it always comes together brilliantly on the day.
“We’d like to thank the sponsors and volunteers who always work so hard to make the event such a success and we’re delighted to have raised even more money than last year. We’re now really looking forward to next year’s run, which will be taking place on Sunday, 28th June, 2020.”
Tamworth Gate Gallop takes place on an off-road course in the Anker Valley and features three races tailored towards the whole family – children do their own 600m fun run, family members can do the 4.4km fun run and more serious runners can take part in the 10km.
The race is part of the Burton District Summer League events schedule and attracts runners from across the Midlands to the Anker Valley Sports Complex, in Amington.
“The event has been going for years so it’s a really nice tradition and it has a really special atmosphere,” added Zoe. “St Giles means a lot to local people as everybody seems to know somebody who has been looked after there. It’s a cause that’s really close to people’s hearts.”
Tamworth Gate Gallop raised £5,400 for St Giles in 2018 and has raised more than £112,000 for the hospice over the run’s 25-year history, on top of the money donated by individual charity fundraisers.
St Giles Hospice Director of Fundraising Elinor Eustace said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the Peel Road Runners who works so hard to help support the vital work that St Giles does in the local community, and all of the individual runners who raise money for us when they take part.
“Tamworth Gate Gallop has become a real Tamworth tradition for all the family to enjoy, and we’re proud to be associated with such a wonderful family fitness event.
“If you would like to organise an event for St Giles Hospice we’d love to hear from you. You can contact us at fundraising@stgileshospice.com or call us on 01543 432538.”
Photo caption: The Peel Road Runners hand over the proceeds of the 2019 Tamworth Gate Gallop to St Giles Hospice. (Back from left) Graham Young with Cohen Young, Gill Young, Craig Young, Martin Hollamby with Emma Schnepp, Craig Ruff, Josh Ruff, Zoe Schnepp, Marc Ruff and Alison Dolphin. (Front from left) Chloe Herbert from St Giles Hospice, Belle Ruff, Wendy Ruff, Ellie Ryder from St Giles Hospice, and Sally Schnepp.