Giving back to those in need has always been something I feel passionate about.
For the past six years, I’ve volunteered weekly at my local foodbank. During that time I’ve seen a steady and worrying rise in the number of new clients. More and more families are struggling to put food on the table and feed their children.
When helping to establish Irchester Country parkrun, I knew from the outset that I wanted to build foodbank support into the event. I proposed to the Run Director team that we host a regular foodbank collection, and together we agreed on a monthly collection held on the last Saturday of the month. This coincided with our monthly pacing event, when attendance is typically higher.
There is, of course, never any pressure to donate. However, the Irchester community is an incredibly generous one, and each month we are proud to pass on donations from our parkrunners to The Daylight Centre in Wellingborough, where they are used to support people facing hardship locally.
(A special shout-out must go to core team member Karen, who is quite simply the queen of organising donation displays for photos!)
When I purchased Race Harborough in 2023, I felt it important to continue to find ways in which we were able to give something back. While asking participants to bring physical food donations isn’t always practical, we introduced an option for runners to donate money at the point of entry. These donations support two local foodbanks: Weston Favell Centre Food Bank in Northampton and the Jubilee Food Bank in Market Harborough. At the end of each year, the total amount raised is split between the two charities.
Thanks to the generosity of Race Harborough participants, donations this year totalled £1,148.32, which has now been shared between both foodbanks.
In addition to this, we also host two charity-focused events each year: the Winwick Hall Trail Races in July and the Clipston Trail Races in September.
A proportion of every Winwick Hall Trail Races entry fee is donated to the Bruce Green Foundation, alongside an additional contribution from Race Harborough. This year, the total amount raised for the foundation was £1,160.
Founded in 2018, the foundation works with young people, under 21, in the county of Northamptonshire, individuals who face social inequalities as a result of poor access to education, healthcare and mental health support.
The foundation acts a catalyst for confidence, enabling young people to make changes for the betterment of their lives (academically, socially and emotionally). This is achieved through the provision of long-term interventions, the external delivery of collective entertainment, and by supporting partner organisations who share their mission.
The Clipston Trail Races operate slightly differently. All profits from the event go directly to the Clipston Recreation Field Trust, who then pay Race Harborough a fee for the use of equipment. This year, the Trust received approximately £1,500.
The Clipston Recreation Field Trust has owned and managed the playing fields at Clipston since the early 1980s and is responsible for their ongoing maintenance and development. The site is currently used for football and tennis, but in recent years it has expanded to support a wider range of outdoor activities. This includes a woodland area used by a local forest preschool and walkers of all ages, new play equipment for both young children and adults, and significant upgrades to the pavilion.
Maintaining and improving these facilities comes at a considerable cost, and the funds raised through the trail races play a vital role in keeping this much-loved community space accessible for everyone.
None of this would be possible without the kindness and generosity of the communities that surround Irchester Country parkrun and the Race Harborough events. Whether it’s a tin dropped into a collection box, a small donation added at the point of entry, or simply sharing information about the charities supported, it all helps to make a real difference. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve so far, and I remain committed to ensuring that giving back stays at the heart of everything we do.