New Year – new challenges!

With January rapidly disappearing and the chance of better weather ahead (we should be so lucky) I am looking forward to the year ahead and what it brings for NRAS.

We have a great programme of UK and overseas challenges, ranging from abseiling down Earls Court to trekking the Sahara and a running programme which includes the Great North Run! Now is the time to set yourself a challenge for 2010.

A new event for 2010 is ‘The Whole Hog’ challenge. This is a team event taking place on the 13th June in Hambleden, Oxfordshire. This is a nationwide annual race, however, each event has a unique feel and is full of surprises! It involves lots of fun, lots of mud and many different obstacles. It offers more than just a race and makes for a truly memorable experience. This event is perfect for teambuilding so why not get a group of friends and colleagues together and have a go?

I am delighted to say that we will be holding our first ever NRAS branded 10k run in the beautiful grounds of the National Trust property Hughendon Manor in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on the 11th July. Purple Patch, a running organisation are going to be working with us on this event, they have several years experience of organising runs for charities. It will be a varied run, suitable for all abilities. Places will be limited for this run so the earlier the better for entries! More information will be posted onto our website very soon. We are looking for sponsors so do feel free to let me know if you would like to be involved!

Once again we are lucky enough to have places for two iconic running events – The Great North Run on the 19th September and the Royal Parks Half Marathon on the 10th October. The Great North Run is the biggest half marathon in the world and is always oversubscribed! I was lucky enough to go along in 2007 – as a spectator I hasten to add! Our Volunteer Network Co-ordinator, Paul Keats, took part in it last year for NRAS and said it was a fantastic race to take part in. The Royal Parks Half Marathon is now in its third year and is rapidly establishing itself as a truly great race. If anyone is interested in taking part please do get in touch – places go fast!

We are always looking for people to fundraise for us, if you have any ideas please do get in touch and let us know – we love to hear about new challenges and events. All our events and challenges are on our website so do take a look and see if there is something that takes your interest.

I do hope some of us will be lucky enough to work together for NRAS and look forward to hearing from you.

Val Eyre
Events Fundraiser