Community appeal makes Sawston Fun Run & Walk a success

The Sawston Fun Run on the 13th May lived up to its hype as being one of the best community events of its type, bringing elite, social runners and families together to complete the 7.4k run or the shorter 4K route for walkers and the race for school years 1-6.

Eight hundred and ninety nine entrants turned out for the thirty-third annual event, organised by the Rotary Club of Cambridge Sawston that took place at Sawston Village College.

Many of the entrants commented on the wonderful atmosphere and said ‘the appeal of the event is the special atmosphere created by the community support around the course; it’s so different from normal runs’. In addition to the runners Thor, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Darth Vadar, a Big Bad Wolf were present in fancy dress adding to the attraction of stalls that included a bouncy castle, face painting, food stalls a Fire Engine and the Sawston Youth Group Band.

The overall winner was Miguel Branco of Stapleford in a fast time of 24.58 minutes and the winning lady was Sarah Wightman of Sawston in 28.19 minutes. Sue Woods of Sawston won the ladies over 55 years for the fourth consecutive year whilst the most outstanding family were the four members of the Courtois family from Great Abington who had father Vincent winning the 40-54 category, mother Detienne coming second in the ladies 40-54 and sons Martin winning school years 7-11 and brother Simon coming second in school years 1-6.

Based on the turnout estimates suggest that the target of £15,000 will be reached, taking the cumulative amount donated exclusively to local charities and organisation to over £455,000. The biggest winners this year will be the YMCA Trinity Group to provide mental health support to children in local primary schools and their work with vulnerable homeless individuals in this area and the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust for assistance in purchasing a ventilator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Rosie Hospital.

Others to benefit are: South Cambs Riding for Disabled; Duxford Preschool; Chesterford Preschool; the DX Club at Duxford Primary School: Sawston Air Cadets; Sawston Cricket Club; Linton Infants School PTFA; Whittlesford & Duxford Scouts; Sawston Boys Brigade; Sawston & District Toy Library; Sawston Girls Brigade: Sawston Sing to Remember; Friends of Sawston Library and seven local primary schools.

Many in the community played a apart by providing stalls at the venue or their time as volunteers, such as local aerobics trainer, Marlene Sharpe-Westwood who got the runners warmed up, whilst over 30 members of The Cambridge Building Society undertook numerous supporting roles. The Sawston Youth Group Band attracted crowds in the High Street whilst the scouts, the air and army cadets, the cricket club, members of other Rotary clubs and students from Sawston Village College all helped in different ways.

Chairman of the organising committee Rotarian Ian Chamberlain said ‘I’d like to thank everyone who made the Fun Run another success by helping us; those who marshalled and provided water as well as The Cambridge Building Society and other sponsors and businesses and those in Sawston who contributed in some way. It was so good to see everyone enjoying themselves.’

The Rotary club is indebted to the event sponsor The Cambridge Building Society, Jon Culpin and Sawston Village College and sponsors Adams Harrison,  Budgens Sawston, Gibbs Denley Insurance, Morgan Sindall, the Ridgeon Group, Scotsdales, Vindis Sawston and the Sawston Parish Council as without them the event could not be held.