Thank you for taking part in CAFOD’s Festive Fun Runs
‘Tis the season of joy and goodwill, and what better way to celebrate Christmas than taking part in a CAFOD festive fun run! This month, we saw our Nativity Fun Run taking place in Clapham Common and our Christmas Fun Run in Liverpool, Bollington and virtually! Find out how our festive runners helped stamp out poverty this Christmas.
Nativity Fun Run
On Saturday 9 December, we saw lots of our supporters gather with their friends and families to run, walk, stroll and jump (over lots of muddy puddles!) around Clapham Common. The weather was touch and go, with the heavens opening as we started, but by the end we were treated to a rainbow!
From shepherds to angels, to little lambs and a rather large swan! Our runners rocked their most merry fancy dress for a dance warm-up, joining in with the choir and doing fun, festive activities on the route. There were even delicious mince pies, mulled wine and warming hot chocolate to finish! People of all ages came together to support those most in need, taking a break from the busy Christmas preparation to, instead, embrace the spirit of this giving season and true Christmas cheer.
Thank you to everyone who took part, fundraised and donated towards CAFOD’s work.
Christmas Fun Run
Young runners take steps to fight poverty.
Already a month has gone by since CAFOD’s Bollington Christmas Fun Run. Families and friends braved the forecast wind and rain to take on this festive route and fight poverty with every step taken.
After the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day, the festive spirit continued with CAFOD’s Christmas Fun Run on the 27th December. Hundreds of people across the country dusted off their trainers once again for this festive fun run with a difference.
It was great to see people of all ages taking part in the Fun Run, with different generations taking on the course together. Francesca ran the course whilst her grandad, Tim, walked the route. Between them, they raised a fantastic £1266 with Francesca raising £415 of the total amount. She asked permission from her headteacher at school to stand with a collection bucket at the gate and also collected sponsorship online from family, friends and parishioners at her local church.
Francesca told us, “I’d love to do the CAFOD Fun Run again. It’s great to raise money for such a good cause and you can achieve a lot with time and effort.”
Also running the course was George, an altar server at his local church, who completed the route with his uncle. George told us why he took part: “This is now the third time I have done the CAFOD Fun Run in Bollington – it has a great atmosphere and more importantly, it raises money for CAFOD. We enjoy raising money for all the great work CAFOD does both in school and in church and this is a fun way to help them.”
Well done and thank you to Francesca, George and all those who took part.
The Christmas Fun Run came to Liverpool for its 39th year! What is now a staple part of the community and a yearly catchup for many, the Liverpool Fun Run was filled with Christmas cheer. Novelist and screenwriter (and, of course, Fun Run patron) Frank Cottrell-Boyce took part as usual – he told us that it’s a firm part of his family’s Christmas tradition now!
We also saw the Christmas Fun Run come to Bollington, as many gathered with friends and family to take on this festive route. From walkers to runners, and from grandparents to grandchildren, everyone got involved in making a difference to families fighting poverty, with every step taken!
We even saw some take on a virtual Christmas Fun Run! Location didn’t stop Jess completing her festive 5km, as she ran around Tooting Common in the wind and rain. She says, “The Christmas Fun Run is a great way I can help to make a difference to those affected by climate, conflict, and injustice, and to stand in solidarity with communities around the world. I was also keen to burn off some of the many mince pies I’d eaten!”
Step into 2024 with the Big Lent Walk…
The Christmas Fun Runs may have drawn to a close, but you can still get your steps up in the New Year with our Big Lent Walk challenge! This Lent, get ready to walk 200km in 40 days and give poverty its marching orders.