A TEAM of eleven runners from Burley-In-Wharfedale are training hard for the inaugural Ilkley half marathon on July 14th.

They are running to raise money for the Burley-Tereli Friendship Trust (BTFT), a charity set up by Burley residents with support from Channel Four news presenter Jon Snow.

Burley was linked with Tereli, a similar sized village in Mali in West Africa, through Jon’s On the Line Millennium project.

BTFT has since helped build a school, pharmacy and maternity room in Tereli, as well as funding dune stabilisation to preserve land for crops, a motorcycle ambulance to take the sick and injured 25 miles to the nearest hospital, and the digging of wells in Tereli and the surrounding villages.

The BTFT trustees were inspired by a recent meeting with Dr. Zakari Saye, a Surgical Oncologist in Bamako, Mali.

Zakari was on a visit to observe oncology services in Yorkshire. The charity was shocked to discover there is little cancer care of any sort in Mali, and no palliative care.

Team BTFT is therefore hoping to raise over £3,000 towards establishing the first palliative cancer care centre in Mali.

Jon Snow, who remains a friend and advocate of BTFT, has expressed his strong support for this new venture, saying: “It is truly wonderful to see the people of Burley and Tereli working together in this unique partnership for such a worthwhile cause.”

If you would like to sponsor the team go to

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ and search for Team BTFT.

* The date of the first Ilkley Half Marathon is fast approaching, with preparations well under way.

The event is being organised by Ilkley Round Table and takes place on Sunday, July 14 from 10.30am.

A Round Table spokesman said: “Putting on an event like this does mean some road closures. The route may pass by your home or business so please study the road closure information carefully.

“All roads will be closed from 9:30am on the morning of 14th July and will re-open as the last runner passes.

“Please be aware that there will be parking restrictions on New Brook Street from 6:30am on 14th July for the whole day.

“More information regarding the event and specifically road closures on the day, including approximate timing can be found and are now published on the Ilkley Half Marathon website and facebook page.

“Volunteers are also distributing flyers with published closure information.

“This promises to be a fantastic charity event for our local community and Ilkley Round Table hope you’ll be able to enjoy it with us.”

For more information visit: http://ilkleyhalfmarathon.co.uk/road-closures

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/IlkleyRoundTable/

or email: enquiries@ilkleyhalfmarathon.co.uk.