Over 1,000 runners have raised an estimated £40,000 for local hospice care after a hugely successful officially-timed run at Chatsworth.
The annual Chatsworth 10k took place on Sunday 17th September in aid of Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust.
It was a record-breaking year for the number of participants who took part, with 1,054 people crossing the finish line of both the 10k and 3k routes.
The event commemorated its 15th year after being established in 2008 to raise vital funds for hospice patients across North Derbyshire to receive care and support in the comfort of their own home as they near the end of their life.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire were on hand to show their support, with the Duchess officially starting both the 10k and 3k races, before handing out prizes and medals to worthy recipients.
Rachael Gee, fundraising and events coordinator at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, organises the prestigious event. She said: ‘What an amazing day we had! A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Chatsworth 10k in any way; including all of our participants, volunteers, supporters, family members and friends cheering everyone on – we are so very grateful for your support and it wouldn’t have been possible without you.
‘Sincere thanks go to our headline sponsors, BRM Solicitors, whose support means that as much money as possible was raised for local hospice care. We are also incredibly grateful to TF Jackson, The Eye Place, Holdsworth Foods, Bloomers of Bakewell, Buxton Water and Henry Boot for their sponsorship and gifts in kind.’
Next year’s event is set to take place on Sunday 22nd September. Early bird registration is now open; runners can register for £19 before 1st October, or £6 for the 3k run. Sign up online.
See and download images from our full gallery, taken by volunteer photographer, Iain Klieve.
Ann Roberts-Dinsley from Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak took part in the 3k fun run alongside her husband and two daughters. She said: ‘My dad, Pete died at home at the beginning of 2020 thanks to support from the Hospice at Home service, and his wife, Fiona has been coming to the hospice ever since for bereavement support. My daughter, Emma, who’s 10, decided she wanted to raise money for the hospice so she walked 55 miles this summer, finishing with the 3k race and she’s raised in excess of £1,000 to help people to die at home, and for people to continue to receive aftercare and support from the hospice too.’
Kate Stephenson, from Great Longstone in the Derbyshire Dales, said: ‘I started running a year and a half ago, and I wanted to challenge myself; I thought that taking part today was a very worthy reason and cause to run 10k for. I’ve run 5k before, but this is the longest run I’ll have ever done.’
Rebecca Smedley from Walton in Chesterfield said: ‘I started running back in January to be a bit healthier, and I gradually increased my distance; I did Couch to 5k and then after that, I was going to stop there, but I was told about the Chatsworth 10k, so I trained up further and I feel like I’m ready now; I am ready to challenge myself.’
Will Reece from Sheffield said: ‘My wife is injured today so I have taken her place; she has raised a lot of money for the hospice as she wanted to challenge herself and raise money for a worthy cause, so it’s a double win for everyone.’
Grant Mason from Bilsthorpe in Nottinghamshire said: ‘We did the Chatsworth 10k two years ago and the whole event is amazing; we contribute to fundraising for the hospice, and now Alyshya [a friend] is hooked into running, so she’s now joining us too!’
