Brentwood Half Marathon & Fun Run has always been a charity focused event. Over the last 40 years the event has raised an estimated £3,776,310 for charity. Not only does money raised from entrant fees go to charities, runners are also encouraged to do their own fundraising. Here are some of this years runners that are raising money for good causes. Links to their JustGiving pages are below, any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Susan Smith
‘I will be taking on my biggest running challenge to date, and taking part in my first half marathon; the Brentwood Half. Throughout the pandemic, running has given me a much needed escape from the challenges we have all faced, but none more so than the charities who have struggled to continue to support their worthwhile causes since the start of 2020. With this in mind, I have decided to run the half marathon on behalf of two charities, which are very close to my heart. The first Ovacome, a UK based ovarian cancer support charity, in memory of my mum Mary who lost her battle with the disease 16 years ago. The second, the Stroke Association, in memory of my father-in-law Biff, who was taken from us in November 2019 after suffering a stroke in the summer of that year. I have trained really hard over the cold, dark winter nights, and I'm really looking forward to being part of the 2022 Brentwood Half.’
Lucy, Charlotte, Daniel and William from Fairview New Homes
Four of the team at Fairview New Homes are running at the Brentwood Half Marathon to raise money for Kids Inspire, an Essex-based charity who provide mental health and trauma recovery support for children and their families. We've been working with Kids Inspire and supporting the amazing work they do for over a year now. In addition to running for Kids Inspire, we're also raising money for Thurrock and Brentwood Mind, a charity offering expert support and advice for anyone struggling with their mental health.
Fairview New Homes is also sponsoring 3 of the water stations along the half marathon route.
Mark Rooney and daughter Lauren Pearce
‘Myself and my daughter will be running this year for the Motor Neuron Disease Association in memory of my Mum, Nan. Sheila Rooney who sadly passed away last year on the 12th March. This is going to be a very emotional run.’
Aaron Noble
‘Siva was one of my best friends for 22 years, since senior school from the age of 12. Initially a timid but shrewdly intelligent boy, Siva grew into a truly extraordinary person, that touched the lives of so many. As the gallery of pictures to this page accurately convey, he exuded warmth, friendliness and good humour wherever he went. He had a genuine love of helping others, and seeing others happy made Siva happy. In August last year, after a long battle with his own personal demons, Siva sadly took his own life.
Words cannot express the loss his family and friends have felt since that day, nor can they reverse what has already happened. We can therefore only remember Siva the way he should be remembered: pure, generous and the life and soul of any party. We can also do our best to keep Siva's memory alive by supporting, in remembrance, the causes that were close to his heart. During his life, Siva supported Thurrock Mind, along with many other charities, through charitable donations.
Indeed, Thurrock Mind tried to help Siva before he died, for which I will be forever grateful. Resources were, however, already stretched to the limit and there is a crisis in funding. Mental health (or lack of) is a growing problem in our society today, particularly so from the isolation inflicted by the ongoing pandemic. Mental health services and charities need our support, in order to be able to reach people like Siva.
I am therefore running the Brentwood Half Marathon in March 2022, to fundraise for Thurrock Mind in Siva's memory. My fundraising target is £500. Thurrock Mind will use this money, and those raised by others, to make a real difference to people struggling with their mental health right now.
Any donation, generosity or support would mean a great deal, both to me and to Thurrock Mind. Thank you.’
If you would like to use your efforts to fundraise but have yet to commit to a charity, both Saint Francis Hospice and Brentwood Theatre would love you to join their team.