A call out to Exeter runners

Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT) has released its running calendar for the next year to raise funds for much-needed community projects.

The ECCT, which is the partner charity of Exeter City Football Club, has launched a range of events, including the fun Santa Run in the city centre and its flagship May marathon.

Above: Santa Run. Image: Exeter City Community Trust

To ensure that there are events for runners of all levels, the charity has also added a new trio of five-mile events to its calendar, known as the Quayside Five series.

All profits from the runs will go towards supporting ECCT’s work in the area, which ranges from supported housing for people at risk of homelessness to delivering parasports activities for people of all ages.

Jamie Vittles, chief executive of ECCT, said: “As a charity, we are focused on enabling the people in our city to live healthy, fulfilled lives, and our running programme is part of this. We provide opportunities for all to run, whether as a family in the Santa Run or the half marathon or full marathon for more serious runners.

Above: Image: Exeter City Community Trust

“We’re very grateful to our community of runners who support and promote our event and the more than 100 volunteers who give their time so willingly. It’s been wonderful to see the growth in numbers over recent years. We’re also very grateful to the companies and organisations that sponsor and support us. Thanks to their commitment, we are able to stage these events and use profits to support our work in the area.”

Last year saw a record number of runners participating in ECCT events, with over 3,000 entries and many sold-out races.

Participants can choose to run for charities of their choice or raise funds for ECCT directly.

Above: Image: Exeter City Community Trust

The running calendar for the year ahead is:

• Halloween 5 and 10 miles: Sunday, October 27 (Exeter Quay)
• Santa Run 2.5k or 5k: Sunday, December 1 (city centre)
• Granite Way, 10 and 20 miles: Sunday, March 9 (Okehampton)
• Exeter Live Better Marathon and Community 5 miles: Sunday, May 11 (Exeter Quay)
• Exeter Half Marathon and Riverside 5 miles: February 8 and 9 (Exeter Quay)
• River Run 10k: Sunday, June 27 (Exeter Quay)

You can find out more information here.