Put your trainers and join the fun run for Headway Jersey

Saturday 21 April 2018

Six Highlands students have organised a fun run as part of their course to raise money for local charity Headway on 29 April at 09:00.

Participants will have the choice of two distances, 5k and 10k, and will be to walk, jog or run.

Alex Goncalves, Blake Crockart, Allix Baxter, Alexander Burgess, Cristina Pereira and Chloe Macdonald, aged 18 to 19, have been working hard the past few weeks to put the event together, as part of their OCR Extended Diploma in Business.

Alex explained: "As part of one of our units on project management, we had to plan an event for charity. We started the course last year so everything we have learned in Accounting, Human Resources and business has fed into the organisation of this event. We put into practice what we learned about budget and accounting too. It was all useful!

"It has definitely tested us. It shows how much goes into it and how much organisations have to do to plan their events. It has been difficult but we were determined and we all worked as a team."

While the group had different ideas for their event, they eventually settled on a fun run that everyone could join in. Alex said: "It all started with a brainstorming. We were thinking of a vintage car show or a dog walk. We opted for a fun run because it doesn't have to be just running. People can walk too and it's a good way to raise money. If there's good weather, we thought it could be quite a nice event."

When it came to choosing which charity to support, the six students made their decision very quickly. Alex said: "Headway helps people with brain injuries. We researched quite a lot of charities and Headway was one we had all heard of. It really could happen to anyone and we might need Headway support. There is so many great local charities to support but we thought we could all get behind Headway."

The students have been working closely with the charity and received lots of support in their first foray into organising an event. Now they are all hoping that many islanders will join on the day to make the fun run a success. Both courses will depart from Le Fregate Green with the 5k one running to the Kiosk and back while the 10k one will go all the way to the Boat House in St. Aubin and back. 

Entry donation has been set at £10 for adults and £5 for children under 14. Raffles and prizes will be drawn and distributed at Le Fregate Green at the end of the Fun Run. Children and adults with the best 'silly' will also win a prize so all participants are encouraged to "run in style."