Running for rough sleepers - Fun runners are encouraged to fundraise for Project 16:15
The 16:15 Charity Run will take place at Northampton's Racecourse on Saturday, May 20 to raise money to help rough sleepers in the town
People are being encouraged to start fundraising for the first ever 16:15 Charity Run.
The event, which will raise money to help rough sleepers. takes place in just under seven weeks time at Northampton’s Racecourse.
Jointly organised by Step Forward With Lewis, Northampton rough sleeper charity Project 16:15 and Running Tales, the 16:15 Charity Run will start at 8am on Saturday, May 20.
Set to run for six hours, the idea for the run came about after George Murray, who slept rough on the town's streets for many years, sadly passed away last year.
Running Tales’ own Michelle Lewis, whose Step Forward With Lewis business came up with the idea of the run, said: “George was a hugely well-known and popular figure on Northampton's streets.
"People can run as far or as short a distance as they like - the aim is simply to raise awareness, and hopefully some money, to help those less fortunate than us.
"With a bit of luck, we can help the next George in some small way."
Anyone wishing to take part does not have to sign-up, with people able to just join in on the day.
But they are encouraged to fundraise or donate to the event. A fundraising page set up on behalf of the event and Project 16:15 can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/1615CharityFunRun
Anyone wishing to start their own fundraising pages can do so by visiting that page and clicking on the orange ‘Start Fundraising’ tab.
Stan Robertson, who founded Project 16:15 back in 2017, told Running Tales: “The money raised through this event will support everybody who has been on our streets, past and present.
“We support people who have been on our streets. who are going through the cycle of accommodation and maybe prison and back to the streets, or even those in hospital.
“It will go not just towards food - as we are well blessed with food donations - but towards the welfare work we do and to the provision of safety equipment - things like hand-held alarms or torches - or luxuries like wind-up radios.
“One of our favourite things is the sleep pods we provide. As the winter looks like it is about to get colder again, we will have to invest in more of those.”