Firms again set the pace for charity

ESSEX business people will be getting in their stride this summer as an annual charity race gets under starters' orders.

This year's Race for Business, hosted by Wollastons solicitors, takes place at Chelmsford on Wednesday, June 10. This year's chosen charity is Farleigh Hospice.

Law firm senior partner Richard Wollaston said: “We are thrilled when runners take part in the race for the first time, but what has been fantastic is the number of teams and runners who support our event every year.

“Some runners have run in every race since the first time. A lot of runners enjoy the challenge of the race as it gives them something to aim for, whether they keep fit regularly or just want to do something healthy and fun.

“We were overwhelmed by the amount of money we raised last year for Helen Rollason Heal Cancer charity and hope to do as well again this year for Farleigh Hospice.

Paralympic gold medallist Danny Crates, who will be supporting the event, said: “I have been involved with this amazing event for six years now and have three times run it myself along with 2000 plus runners. The atmosphere is always incredible.”

Gary Hawkes, head of fundraising and PR at Farleigh Hospice, said they were “delighted” to have been chosen by Wollastons as this year's beneficiary.

“In 2007, just over 1,800 runners raised �45,000 for us and funded the running of our nurse-led clinic for the year, enabling the nurses in our clinic to provide over 500 treatments,” he said.

“If we can get 2,000 people to run and each of those can raise �35 we will have enough to fund 700 visits by our community nurse team to patients in their own homes.”

Runners can special teeshirts for the event for �5 to raise further funds for the charity. Entry forms and details of how to enter are available at www.wollastons.com.