Club puts heart and ‘sole’ into charity fundraising

Runners have put their best foot forward to raise thousands of pounds for mental health charity Lancashire Mind.  

Blackburn Road Runners, a running club in Blackburn, chose the Chorley-based charity to support for the year. 

Members have held a series of raffles and challenges. All joining fees from members who signed up to the Lands’ End to John O’Groats’s challenge – which saw members run over 800 miles - were donated to the cause. The club have also sold calendars created by club member and talented photographer Shafiq Khan. 

Lancashire Mind are an independent charity passionate about making a difference to the mental health of people living and working in Lancashire.  

Emma Bateson, fundraising lead at Lancashire Mind, said: “Fundraising is so important to Lancashire Mind because it enables us to support local projects across the communities that we work in all over Lancashire.  

“We’d really like to thank everyone at Blackburn Runners for their fantastic fund-raising efforts throughout the year. Without donations like these, Lancashire Mind would be unable to fulfil the work they are required to do to help people experiencing poor mental health in Lancashire.”  

Deborah Clucas, treasurer at Blackburn Road Runners, said: “Although the club hasn’t been able to meet as regularly as we would have liked due to Covid-19, we got our thinking caps on and came together as a group to raise over £3,000 for the charity. 

“We are so proud of all our members for all their hard work and dedication, and we are delighted to raise money for such a deserving cause.’’ 

Blackburn Road Runners, who run every Wednesday from Cherry Tree Cricket Club, have also supported Lancashire Mind’s annual Mental Elf Fun Run at Witton Park for years. 

To join them at this year’s Mental Elf 5k event on 5 December, sign up here: https://bit.ly/mentalelf21