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After a three-year gap a popular event in Sutton Coldfield is aiming to be back this year with two big changes and a big target for good causes. The town’s fun run has been a popular fixture in the calendar with thousands of runners raising hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.
And it is set to return on Sunday, May 29 at the start of the Whitsun week half-term holiday. A change from its ‘traditional’ spot at the end of that week on Sunday, June 5, as previously advertised.
The event will also have a name change and has a £5million target in its sights. But importantly it is also a chance to ‘bring the community together’.
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Event director, Tracey Spare, said the date change is in deference to the Queen, with Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place that week. And Buckingham Palace’s request for the Big Jubilee Lunch, encouraging people to have street parties on June 5.
But the date is not yet set it stone with applications made to Birmingham City Council to get the go ahead. Tracey said: “We have applied for use of the park. We wanted to go for the traditional weekend but because of Buckingham Palace announcing street parties on June 5 we have decided to move the date.
“Highways [department at Birmingham City Council] have received quite a few applications for road closures for parties. It was starting to mount up that we were going to have logistical issues. So it’s not going to happen on June 5.”
The 60-year-old said he had been planning for another missed year, having already cancelled the 2020 and 2021 fun runs due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said the news of the Omicron Covid variant at the end of last year affected his usual preparations to stage the Sutton community event, which would usually have started registrations before now.
He said: “Omicron seriously impacted on the planning process. I did think 2022 was a non-starter. My thoughts had already moved to 2023 if I’m honest. But things have moved very quickly.
“At the moment we are in a state of limbo waiting for confirmation for May 29. I am hoping sometime next week we will get some clarification from the council and registrations starting on Monday, March 7.”
And this year marks a milestone anniversary. The Royal Sutton Fun Run began in 1982 and is set to return under its old name, having been the Great Midlands Fun Run since 2003.
Tracey said with it being the 40th-anniversary edition he felt it right to return the event to its old name. He said: “We are returning to the Royal Sutton Fun Run for good. With the enforced break that we have had.
“With Sutton getting its royal status back in 2014. With it being the Queen’s platinum jubilee and it being 40 years since the first event which was the Royal Sutton Fun Run, the elements have come together to go back to the old name.
“There were reasons to change it to the Great Midlands Fun Run and it has worked well, with how much money has been raised. But many people have referred to it was the Sutton Fun Run or Royal Sutton Fun Run anyway. It’s coming back home to its origins.”
This year Tracey is hoping the fun run can be a catalyst for people to be reunited. And hopes those taking part can help catapult the fundraising total through the £5 million mark since it began in 1982.
It will be a welcome return after a ‘challenging’ two years which have seen him work for the Royal Mail, Morrison’s and on the Census. And, fingers crossed, a testament to the popularity and longevity of the event, which was thought of as a ‘fad’ when it was thought of by Tracey’s dad more than four decades ago.
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He said: “People have raised £4.83 million since 1982 so it would be lovely to break through £5 million. That is what the event has always been about.
“To a large degree haven’t been able to fundraise. Virtual events aren’t the same as doing a challenge. Cardiac Hill is an iconic stretch of the route. People who know the route will see that as a huge challenge on the course. And people can’t wait to do it again. It’s there to be conquered.
“As well as a vehicle to raise money and more so than ever it’s the community getting back together. Not just the Sutton community but people with friends and family from further afield who come to the event.
“People have been asking for the event. There’s a real appetite and enthusiasm for it to be back.”
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Find more about Sutton Coldfield by visiting our dedicated page for the area here.
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