Bath area businesses are being urged to enter teams for a half marathon in September to help raise funds for a range of charities.
More than 500 people have already signed up for this year’s Chippenham Half Marathon, with hundreds more expected to register over the coming weeks.
But its organisers are keen to welcome more corporate teams, who can either raise money for the race’s official charity The RISE Trust, which supports families across North Wiltshire, or their own chosen good causes.
The event, organised by Chippenham Harriers and due to take place on 17 September, is licensed for up to 2,000 runners with a route that goes through the town centre and along scenic country lanes and local villages and hamlets.
Chippenham-headquartered 100% renewable energy firm Good Energy is co-sponsoring the half marathon, and has already entered its own team after winning the corporate category last year.
Chippenham Half Marathon race director Matthew Hurcum said: “We’ve had a really encouraging response from residents, with runners of all ages signing up, but it would be great to see more businesses and organisations getting involved too.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to exercise together and have lots of fun. “And teams can raise money for their own causes too.”
Good Energy has recruited seven runners for its own team, including staff from across its sales, IT, finance and communications departments.
One team member, head of communications Ian McKee, said: “Having taken the corporate team title last year and since signed up as sponsors, it was a given we would be back at the Chippenham Half.
“In addition to being brilliant for the town, the race is a great way to encourage team spirit within a business and get some exercise.”
The town’s Hardenhuish School has 13 teachers running in aid of Cots for Tots, the neonatal intensive care unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol.
Assistant headteacher Mike Heffernan said: “We’re really looking forward to taking part. Aside from keeping us fit in training over the summer, we hope to raise lots of money for our school charity.
“If we manage to post a competitive time for the corporate challenge as well, that’s an added bonus.”
The Chippenham Half Marathon begins on Bristol Road near Chippenham Sports Club at 9.30am and ends at the same location.
For more information or to register, visit www.chippenhamhalfmarathon.co.uk
Good Energy was launched more than 20 years ago with a mission to power a cleaner, greener world and make it simple to generate, share, store, use and travel by clean power. Today it has more than 200,000 customers.
As well as supplying 100% renewable electricity from independent green generators in Britain, it also installs heat pumps, solar panels and batteries and part owns electric vehicle charge point mapping app Zap-Map.
Pictured: Runners set off at the start of last year’s Chippenham Half Marathon. Image by iCaptureSport
