Run Barns Green Continues to Support St Catherine’s Hospice

Once again St Catherine’s Hospice will be the official charity for Run Barns Green. The event is made up of two races, a half marathon and a 10k and they will take place on Sunday 26th September with Horsham MP Jeremy Quin acting as the official race starter. Architectural Plants are the main sponsor of the event.

St Catherine’s provides individualised, expert end-of-life care and support to local people, their families, friends and carers living in Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and East Surrey. This year there is particular poignancy in the association between Run Barns Green and St Catherine’s. One of the long-standing Run Barns Green committee members, Den Critchley, sadly died in June after a long battle with cancer. He and his family received outstanding support from St Catherine’s during the last few weeks of his life.

Run Barns Green Race Director, Vernon Jennings said, “We are delighted to be able to support this outstanding charity once again. Those of us who have visited St Catherine’s Hospice know what a wonderful place it is with some very special people providing an essential service. Over the last few years we have built up a close relationship with the charity, and this year, the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Den Critchley reminded us all once again what outstanding work St Catherine’s does for the local community. There will be a minute's applause prior to the start of the half marathon race in memory of Den, and the great commitment that he made to Run Barns Green over many years. His daughter Ally, who is also on the Run Barns Green Committee, son Mike, and various other family members and friends will be running the 10k race this year to raise money for St Catherine’s.

In 2019 the event combined with the great generosity of the runners resulted in just over £19,000 being raised for St Catherine’s.

Felicity Parsons, Fundraiser at St Catherine’s said: “We have a very good relationship with Run Barns Green committee and we are thrilled that they are supporting us again this year. The support of our local community has never been more vital. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re still not able to run our usual fundraising events, and we’ve had a drop of around £1.5 million in income. The support of the Run Barns Green committee and runners will make sure we can be here for our local community in years to come. On behalf of everyone at St Catherine’s, I’d like to thank them for their wonderful support.”

Run Barns Green was cancelled last year because of the pandemic but in 2019 just over 2,000 runners registered for the two races which follow routes on closed roads through the lanes of Barns Green, Itchingfield, Christ’s Hospital and close to Southwater through some of the most scenic countryside in West Sussex. The race also goes through the magnificent grounds of Christ’s Hospital School. What could be more uplifting for the runners? There is plenty of free car parking and there is chip timing for each runner in both races. There are also pacemakers running who will help runners to achieve their target finish time. As part of Run Barns Green’s ongoing sustainability programme, runners will, for the first time, receive a wooden medal at the end of the race.

Registrations for the race are open on the Run Barns Green website; runbarnsgreen.org.uk

For further information contact;
Nigel Currie,
Run Barns Green Committee.
01403 730777 07774 229305 runbarnsgreen.org.uk