NEARLY 80 runners and walkers braved the rain last Saturday to raise money for Syrian refugees living locally at the first ever ‘Gimme Shelter 3K’ fun-run in Bromsgrove’s Sanders Park.
Children as young as five to adults in their 80s, crossed the line to collect a finisher’s medal and goody bag with Helen Russell and Chris Bird jointly picking up the winners’ trophy.
A green theme to the event saw some runners wearing super-hero fancy dress while a healthy dose of rock music was provided from the bandstand by local poet Spoz Esposito and his band Vaseline.
More than £300 was raised from the event which will go to support Syrian refugees re-located locally through the government’s vulnerable persons scheme.
A donation station near the start line collected a range of essential items for Malvern charity ‘People in Motion’ to deliver to refugee camps.
Tariq Arafa, race organiser, said: “The money raised will be invaluable in helping Syrian families settle in the area and we hope the event has raised greater awareness about their plight. Once again the generosity of local people has shone through and we hope to repeat the run in years to come.”
