Fresh from being crowned Suffolk’s Most Active Town, Bury St Edmunds is getting ready for its annual Festival of Sport.
The ten-day annual event next month starts with a Sports Aid charity lunch with guest speaker cyclist Jess Varnish, a member of the world record holding European team sprint champions, and finishes with the town's marathon and half-marathon.
Sports clubs, fitness groups, classes and social exercise groups are all invited to sign up to the week, free of charge, to promote events and encourage new members during the Festival.
Bury received the accolade of the county's Most Active Town at the Suffolk Community Awards ceremony at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of the Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) said: "The Festival of Sport was just one of many activities in Bury St Edmunds that helped the town win this accolade and I'm proud to launch this year's event today and celebrate grass roots sporting achievements.
"As before, we want to include the villages around Bury too, so if you have sporting or exercise based activities during the half term week that people can get involved with, either as participants, volunteers or spectators, then please let us know and we'll include them in our free website listings.
"Exercise, whether competitive or not is about much more than fitness levels, it can give a real feeling of well-being and is often recommended to alleviate mental health issues."
The Our Bury St Edmunds Festival of Sport runs from October 18-27 and sports clubs who wish to put on an event or offer a come-and-try session can register their interest and have activities listed on the Festival's website at no cost.
It will focus on local sports clubs or groups and include free taster sessions for people looking to try a new activity.
Among the highlights of this year's Festival of Sport is the HaverSports St Eds Running Festival which offers races over 10k, half-marathon and marathon distance. Charter Square in the Arc shopping centre will be the focus for many taster sessions during the week.
The Our Bury St Edmunds Festival of Sport is promoted by a partnership led by the BID, Abbeycroft Leisure and Suffolk County and West Suffolk Councils.
For more information visit the festival website or contact the BID on 01284 766258.
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