Background history of The Great Midlands Fun Run

Sunday, 14 September, 2003, marked the inaugural Great Midlands Fun Run with the ninth event staged on 5 June last year.

The Great Midlands Fun Run is NOT A RACE. It's a fun event for people of all ages and abilities. Disability or age is not a barrier.

As an entrant you are encouraged to contribute towards the key objective - to provide financial support to charities and voluntary organisations, preferably across the Midlands - by collecting sponsorship money for a charity, voluntary organisation or community interest group of your choice.

As a direct result of your endeavours, this financial support will directly improve the quality of life for those who live with physical, learning or emotional disability.

The main sponsors include, Erdington based Cookes Furniture, Central Independent News & Media Ltd - publishers of titles including the Sutton Observer, Great Barr Observer, Tamworth Herald, Lichfield Mercury & Walsall Advertiser.

Two new main sponsors joined in 2011: Tamworth Audi and Sutton based Reflection Marketing as our web design and host partner.
We also want to thank our many supporting sponsors for their enthusiasm, support and encouragement.

The Fun Run is staged over an 8.5 mile all-tramac route. The start is in Sutton Coldfield town centre from where you enter Sutton Park @ Boldmere Gate after 2.25 miles, negotiate approximately 4.5 miles in the park including 'Cardiac Hill', exit @ Four Oaks Gate after 6.75 miles before returning to the finish in the town centre. A route map can be found by visiting the Fun Run Info tab at the top of the home page.

Everyone who completes the course receives a specially minted commemorative medal - sponsored by Cookes Furniture.

In 2003 over £40,000 was generated for Midlands based charities and a whopping £82,700 was raised in 2004.

A further £81,800 was added in 2005 and an astonishing £108,300 was raised in 2006 with a then record-breaking £134,700 recorded in 2007.

In 2008, Fun Run entrants astounded everyone by raising £165,150 another record by a sizeable margin, and in 2009 that record breaking figure was raised substantially when it was announced that for the first time the annual total had broken £200,000 with £201,351 being distributed.

In, 2010 just over £200,000 was again distributed for the second consecutive year, taking the total since 2003 through the £1million mark.

Last year, [2011] proved to be another record breaking year with £228,300 being distributed, nearly £27,000 more than the previous annual record.

The total distributed since 2003, after just nine events now stands at £1,240,570.

240 Charities, Voluntary Organisations and Community Interest Groups directly benefited from the money raised from the 2011 Great Midlands Fun Run. These organisations were, as always, nominated by entrants and not by the organising executive.

A full list of those to benefit in 2011 can be found under the charity menu header.

The 10th Anniversary Great Midlands Fun Run is scheduled for Sunday, 10 June, 2012 start time 11am.