THIS year’s Solstice Saunter event, which was due to take place at Bolton Abbey on the longest day of 2020, has been replaced with a virtual event due to coronavirus restrictions.
Organised by the Airedale Dodgers Running Club and sponsored by JB Springs, the virtual fundraising event will take place on Saturday 20 June, with people encouraged to run, saunter or walk a 5K route of their choice.
Participants can start their 5K at any time after sunrise and must finish before sunset, giving them a window of 17 hours 5 minutes and 32 seconds in which to complete the distance. All those who take part will receive an exclusive Solstice Saunter 2020 medal and can choose to submit their time to be recorded on a virtual event leaderboard.
Registration costs £20pp, with all proceeds going to Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, which provides expert palliative care and support for people living with life-limiting conditions. 850 participants took part in last year’s event, raising around £20,000.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice has had to cancel all its fundraising events until the end of August, including the Manorlands Garden Party, Zip the Cow, Manorlands Paint Rush and the Keighley 10k & 5k. With ongoing uncertainty over its fundraising activities for the foreseeable future and how long it will take Sue Ryder shops to return to normal trading once they are safe to re-open, Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice anticipates a funding gap of £1.5million for this financial year.
Rachel Binns, Head of Hospice Fundraising, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our local community over the past couple of months and would like to thank everyone who has supported our Emergency Appeal. We hope that people will get involved with our virtual events, such as the Virtual Solstice Saunter 2020, which we hope will provide a way for everyone to support us and go some way to making up our shortfall in funds.”
To sign up to the Virtual Solstice Saunter on Saturday 20 June, visit: sueryder.org/solsticesaunter
If you would like to organise your own fundraising activity for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, email: manorlands.fundraising@sueryder.org
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here