Call out for Shropshire’s young people to take part in race for life

After last year’s success, young people across Shropshire are being invited to take the Race for Life challenge again in July and help raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Organised by Shropshire’s Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) and Shropshire’s Young Health Champions, the event is on Saturday 12 July 2014 at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne, beginning at 1pm.

The race is open to boys and girls of all abilities as well as parents, carers and group leaders.

You can either walk, run, buggy, rollerskate, wheelchair or even scooter for any distance you like, but if you fancy a challenge you can aim for 5km.   Contestants are encouraged to wear pink, fancy dress and have wacky hair.  All children and young people must be accompanied by an adult group leader or an adult family member.

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, said:

“I think the Race for Life for young people is a brilliant idea.  After 2013’s race, this year’s looks to be even better as it offers a fantastic day out with a twist, that all the family can enjoy, especially as its great opportunity raise money for a fantastic cause.”

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, said:

“Young people’s health and well-being is very high on our agenda.  The Race for Life is a great non-competitive way of getting children interested in a leisure activity and getting fitter too.  I encourage local children and young people and their families to come along, get active and have fun.”

Organiser Lorraine Warrender, MYPs support worker with the positive activities team at Shropshire Council, added:

“This year the MYPs, with Youth Health Champions, are working even harder on this event.  School nurses will be at the event and will be asking young people about what helps to make them happy.  These comments will be put into a draw and prizes will be given to the winning responses.  This year there will also be a chance to attach a motivational saying of hope to our Tree of Hope, which a local sculptor has made with the young people.  Young people will also be encouraged to write a message on paper in remembrance of someone they know who has or who has had cancer.  This will form a giant paper chain to show how many young people are affected by cancer.”

Bharti Patel-Smith, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s Director of Governance and Involvement, said:

“We are pleased to support this event again, which was the idea of local Youth Parliament members.  We know that many young people wanted to join the adult race for life, so we hope they will take part in this event.  We are always keen to encourage young people to be more active, and this is a fun way of doing exercise and, importantly, raising money for a good cause.   As a CCG we work closely with the Youth Parliament to understand young people’s health needs and how we can improve services.

“We are also donating a prize to the young people’s race for life, by offering one lucky winner the chance to spend two days with the CCG on work experience.  We hope that these two days will provide them with an insight to our work and useful experience that will look great on their future CVs.”

If you work with young people, would like to bring your own children, want to volunteer at this event, or wish to join in with the music, dancing and competitions, then please join us for what will be a brilliant day supporting a very worthy charity.

Entry to the race is just 50p and is payable on the day, but all groups and families will need to register by Friday 4 July 2014.  To register contact Lorraine Warrender on 07990 087001 or email lorraine.warrender@shropshire.gov.uk.

Contestants are encouraged to bring donations on the day; all proceeds will go towards Cancer Research UK Race for Life.  Or you can just donate on their Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/shropshirechildrensrace4life

Further information

The Young Health Champions project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Big Lottery.  The aim of the project is to recruit and train 300 young people to become health champions for children and young people in Shropshire.

If you are a young person between the ages of 11 and 25, or know someone who is and would like to get involved contact Lorraine Warrender, health champions manager, youth services at Shropshire Council on 07582 002587 or email lorraine.warrender@shropshire.gov.uk.