What a day! The Solas Centre couldn’t have asked for a better day for its South East Run for Life. The increased numbers that participated, the increased money raised for the South East Cancer Foundation and the all new Fun for Life event at the People’s Park in Waterford City on Sunday, October 16th all made the fourth Run for Life its best ever. And the weather helped too!
With a growth of over 700 participants on the previous year, 1708 runners, joggers and walkers lined the streets of Waterford in this year’s luminous orange South East Run for Life t-shirts. At one stage in the afternoon four miles of these orange shirts snaked around Waterford’s ring road providing a magnificent sight.
The 2011 race was much more of a regional event. Over 40% of the participants hailed from outside Waterford County. This year’s regional focus was a conscious decision on the part of the organisers. Since the Solas Centre offers its services to a regional audience Beat 102 103 came on board to promote this year’s race to the five counties of the South East. One runner even came all the way from Wales!
The monies raised this year also exceeded all projections and eclipsed previous year’s totals. With over €264,000 raised for The Solas Centre this important event was an even bigger success than ever imagined. In fact in the days and weeks since the race the positive feedback to the Solas Centre has been overwhelming.
Iain Munro, SECF Chairman was delighted with the day, “I am so pleased with the tremendous response this year. The money raised will help expand the Solas Centre’s services through out the South East. One of this year’s goals is to develop our relationship with cancer support groups throughout the five counties. I cannot thank the runners enough for giving up their time to participate in the South East Run for Life 2011.
Our plans for the coming months include broadening our service base, adding to the facilities we provide our clients and increasing our staff to serve them. We need to be constantly creative in the way we support cancer patients and the funds generously donated will allow us to support new programmes. Thanks to the generosity of the people of the South East new services can be introduced in 2012.” Mr. Munro added.
The Solas Centre was built entirely from community fundraising and the generosity of the people of the South East, over €1.5million was raised over three years. It moved from its original premises in a small estate house in Waterford to its new state of the art facility in Ardkeen, which is now regarded as one of the finest cancer support facilities in the country today.
Plans for the 2012 South East Run for Life have already started. If you participated in this year’s event and have any ideas or suggestions for next year’s race the team at the Solas Centre would be delighted to hear from you. Simply call into the Solas Centre at Ardkeen in Waterford City or write to them with your thoughts and suggestions. You can also call (051) 304604, email info@solascentre.ie or find them on Facebook.
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