A leading north-east cancer support charity is appealing for runners and riders as it confirms its participation in a number of events throughout the year ahead.
CLAN Cancer Support has places at many of the north-east’s leading running and bicycle races, with a whole host of opportunities for individuals to take part on its behalf.
The charity, which provides free support services to anyone affected by cancer across the North-east, is a nominated charity for this year’s Run Garioch event which will see a 5k, 10k, half marathon and three children’s races take place in and around Inverurie on March 20.
Runners will also have the chance to take to the scenic routes around Balmoral estate after the charity secured a range of places in April’s Run Balmoral road race. With spots for the 5k, 10k, 15 mile trail race and duathlon, which take place across the weekend of April 23-24, the charity is looking to build on previous successes at the event.
Things take a muddier turn in May after the charity was confirmed as a nominated cause for the Mud Madness event at Lochter Activity Park on Sunday, May 8. The event sees both a 3k and 5k race tackled by participants across a number of demanding natural obstacles and water-based challenges on wild, muddy terrain.
The charity will then return to the popular Baker Hughes 10k event on Sunday, May 15 and is hoping to build on the 115 individuals who laced up their running shoes on behalf of the cancer charity at last year’s race.
CLAN is also a nominated charity for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival which will be held on the weekend of May 28-29. The event is Scotland’s largest running festival of its kind with over 30,000 participants expected to take part in seven races.
Running shoes are swapped for cycle cleats in August with CLAN a chosen charity for the grueling Ride the North cycle challenge, a 175 mile route through the Grampian Highlands. The charity has 10 places available for the event which this year takes place on August 27-28.
With plans soon to be confirmed for its own CLAN Landmark Walk, a sponsored 13 or 7.8 mile walk which takes in various sights around Aberdeen, it is shaping up to be a healthy, fit and fun year for the charity’s fundraising team.
Susan Crighton, CLAN’s fundraising manager, said: “This year, we are involved in a wide array of different running and cycling events and we’re appealing for anyone who is looking to take part in any of these to consider doing so on behalf of CLAN.
“The atmosphere at these events is always amazing and it’s fantastic to see so many people complete personal challenges after what are often months of hard work and training. We’re lucky here in the North-east in that we have a sporting calendar that is packed with opportunities for individuals to take part in challenges across the region and we’re sure that this year will be no different.
“The support from the North-east public towards CLAN has always blown us away and we’re looking forward to another fun year of individuals pulling on the CLAN colours and clocking up the miles.”
For further information on any of the events or if you would like to register an interest in taking part on behalf of CLAN, please contact its fundraising team on 01224 647000 or email fundraising@clanhouse.org
CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.
Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of North-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Lossiemouth, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.
For further information about CLAN Cancer Support please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org