The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 12: Summer 2019 | Page 40

POSITIVE BUSINESS
LEAD CHARITIES NAMED
FOR BATH HALF 2020
The 2020 Bath Half Marathon has
announced four lead charities ahead of
next year’s event. In a break from tradition
of having one lead charity, the organiser,
Running High Events, has named
Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research
UK, NSPCC and Prostate Cancer UK as
the principal beneficiaries.
It is hoped that having more lead
charities will broaden the appeal
to different groups of runners and
allow a wider spread of fundraising
opportunities.
Kayley Waller, Charity Director
at Running High Events, said,
“We want to help as many
charities as possible raise as
much as they can.
“We know from experience
our main lead charity typically
enjoys a significant increase
in reserved places and a huge
uplift in funding and we believe
we can replicate this across
all four charities. Each of the
lead charities are allocated 300
places for fundraising and with
the event being a sell-out, as
well as capped at 15,000 entries,
it will help these four charities
attract runners and create more
funds.”
The Bath Half is the largest
charity fundraising event in the
South West and has raised over
£25 million for good causes since
2000.
The average amount raised
by individual fundraisers
through JustGiving was £520
in 2017, which ranks the Bath
Half Marathon in the top three
running events in the UK and
the top race outside London for
average per head fundraising.
Andrew Taylor, Race Director,
said, “We spoke to a lot of
charities before making this
decision and the feedback was
this would be a welcome move.
Ultimately, we are trying to
ensure that as many charities
benefit from the race as possible
and it really feels like best
practice to share the lead charity
spot with more than one good
cause. We still intend to have
one official local charity partner
which we will announce shortly.”
The 2020 Bath Half Marathon
will take place on 15th March.
Entries to the race are now
open and registration can be
completed online by visiting:
www.bathhalf.co.uk
Bath’s Iconic Events are gearing up to Bike Bath 2019
Now approaching its eighth year, Bike Bath,
championed by Redrow Homes, will take place
on Sunday 30th June, starting and finishing at the
Rec in Bath.
Over 1000 riders of all abilities will enjoy a
picturesque 25, 50 or 80 mile fully signed and
supported route. Riders will also enjoy some of the
region’s finest food and drink at feed stations along
the routes and a celebratory pint of Bath Ale at the
finish.
Bike Bath is regarded by many as the most female
friendly ride in the south of England. The region’s
business community are long-time supporters of this
event and local companies include HPH Property,
Bath Ales, Royds Withy King, Carter Jonas, Fielden
Clegg Bradley, MoreSoda web design, Integrity Print
and Islington Motor Group.
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
Sponsors HPH Commercial Property and Bath
Ales recently unveiled the 2019 Bike Bath medal
at the event launch. The medals are made from
recycled bike cogs and chains and also incorporate a
bottle opener. They will be available to anyone taking
part in the event.
This year, Bike Bath will be supporting local
charity Mentoring Plus alongside the members of VC
Walcot, the local bike club partner.
In 2018, Bath-based Iconic Events UK wide events
raised over £50k for 30 different charities.
For more info:
www.bikebath.co.uk
CEO of Iconic Cycling Events Richard Best, Brand Activation Manager for Bath Ales
Vicky Guy and Managing Director of HPH Commercial Property Lindsay Holdoway.