The Chelmsford Marathon sponsored by Beaulieu will return for its seventh year this Sunday in aid of Havens Hospices with the new addition of a half marathon route.
This year’s popular event will take placeon Sunday 17th October 2021 after the charity was forced to postpone last year’s race due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Participants will be helping to raise vital funds for Havens Hospices, an Essex wide charity that provides palliative nursing and supportive care to children and adults living with complex or incurable conditions.
The popular Essex running event has an exciting new addition this year of a halfmarathon option, for those wanting to run a shorter route. Both the 26.2 mile and 13 mile routes will take runners from the start line at Shire Hall at the top of Chelmsford High Street, out through the surrounding countryside and pretty villages of Essex and then across the finish line in Central Park.
Havens Hospices is thrilled that Beaulieu, the new neighbourhood by Countryside and L&Q in Chelmsford, is once again sponsoring the event. Beaulieu first sponsored the Chelmsford Marathon in 2015, in support of J’s Hospice who are now part of Havens Hospices. A group of staff members and residents from Beaulieu will be running on the day in support of the charity.
One of those staff members from Countryside is David Wilson who is participating in the charity’s first Chelmsford Marathon Half route. He is thrilled to be taking part and supporting a local cause, he said: “It’s a fantastic charity based near where I live and work and a great opportunity to raise money for a cause where you know every penny contributes to lifechanging care. I feel very strongly about raising money for charities and worthwhile causes, I previously took part in the Southend Half Marathon as well as other charity fundraising activities, so this was the perfect event for me to get involved with.”
Jane Hopkins, Voluntary Income Area Team Leader at Havens Hospices is looking forward to this year’s event after a tough year of fundraising for the charity which had to cancel and postpone all its usual public fundraising events last year.
She said, “These past 18 months have been very different for Havens Hospices as we have tried to adapt our services around the pandemic. We are really excited for this upcoming fundraiser, which will be one of our first mass participation events since the Coronavirus outbreak with the exciting addition of a half marathon route. Every pound raised will help us continue to provide our free hospice care across Essex.
“We can’t wait to be there on the day cheering everyone on and showing our support. This is one of the biggest events in the Essex race calendar and usually attracts over 1,000 participants each year. We would like also like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors Beaulieu Chelmsford because without their support this event would not be possible, and of course to every runner who has signed up to take part.”
Registration is still open for the Chelmsford Marathon and the Chelmsford Marathon Half route. To sign up please visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/chelmsfordmarathon
To find out more about Havens Hospices and how they are ‘Making every day count’ for children and adults across Essex, visit www.havenshospices.org.uk.
