Sawston Fun Run
Record levels reached at the 2008 event
Many records were broken at this year’s Sawston Fun Run, organised by the Rotary Club of Sawston District, held on Sunday 27th April at Sawston Village College.
Over 400 turned up to enter on the day adding to those who had previously registered resulting in 1,160 pounding the streets of Sawston to raise cash for local charities and organisations.
The unprecedented flow of entrants combined with record proceeds from the giant raffle and tombola raising over £2,000 and a further £1,000 from the street collection all make the Rotary Club being very confident that at least £16,000 plus will be the final amount raised for this year’s charities and organisations.
The inclusion of the new Cancer Help Centre at Shelford, the new Teenage Cancer Trust ward and the Prostate Cancer unit at Addenbrookes Hospital prompted many extra people to apply to what is the largest community-led event in Cambridgeshire.
The start was led by over 40 members of SYD [Sawston Youth Drama group] who were dressed in Wizard of Oz costumes to promote their forthcoming show closely followed by the Fire Service who collected money in buckets and helmets. With the Sawston Youth Group band playing in the centre of the village and over 1,000 spectators around the streets it had all the ingredients of a street carnival.
The four major beneficiaries this year will be:
- Cambridge Cancer Help Centre Unit - to help fund the new counselling and support centre being built in Great Shelford at Scotsdales Garden Centre.
- Addenbrookes Prostate Cancer Unit - to help purchase key equipment to fight this disease.
- Magpas - to help buy specialist medical equipment for roadside accidents.
- Teenage Cancer Trust - to help fund the new 12 bed teenage cancer unit to be built at Addenbrookes Hospital - adding to the £5,000 already donated from the 2005 event.
Other organisations to benefit will be:
- 1st Sawston Scouts - to purchase camping equipment for the scouts cubs and beavers.
- Sawston Youth Drama - to purchase modern sound equipment.
- Sawston Youth Group - to help purchase equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
- South Cambs. Riding for the Disabled - to pay for the hire of ponies for one year.
- Pippins Pre-school - to help with the development of outdoor facilities.
David Morris, President of the Rotary Club of Sawston District, said ‘We are thrilled that we were able to attract so many as it will mean that our fund raising target will be exceeded and reflects just how much the community welcomes this annual event. We could not possibly organise the event without the support of many others especially the main sponsor Cambridge Building Society and the Excell Group plc; Haart Estate Agents; Spicers Ltd; Vindis Sawston, Webb & Partners, solicitors; Sawston Parish Council and Sawston Village College’.
NST Travel, the Marshall Group and Waitrose donated major prizes for the raffle as did all the retailers and businesses from Sawston and the surrounding villages who also play their part too by donating for the raffle or tombola.