Organisers of the Worcester City Runs have announced a new official charity partner. The event, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, will support Acorns Children’s Hospice, which cares for seriously ill babies, children and young people across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire. Organised by Events of the North in partnership with Worcester City Council, the 2024 Worcester City Runs will be held on 14 and 15 September.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions and support for their families from its three hospices, based in Worcester, Birmingham and Walsall, and in family homes. Worcester City Runs founder Steve Cram recently visited Acorns for the Three Counties, in Bath Road, Worcester. While there, he met nurses and other care team members, along with children and their families, learning more about the vital work that Acorns does, and discussing how the partnership with the Worcester City Runs can contribute to that.
Steve Cram comments: “I’m so grateful to Acorns for welcoming me to the hospice in Worcester. It was amazing to find out more about the truly phenomenal work that goes on there, and to meet the team and some of the amazing children that benefit from their care. We’re so pleased to be working with Acorns as the official charity partner of the Worcester City Runs in our tenth anniversary year. We’ll be doing all that we can to communicate that partnership and help the charity to raise funds for the work that makes such a difference to children and young people and their families in this area.”
Kate Vousden, events manager at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We’re thrilled to be the official charity partner for Worcester City Runs during their special tenth anniversary year. This popular annual tradition is one of the city’s biggest and best events and will shine a welcome spotlight on our vital care for children and families across Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
“Every year we care for more than 750 children and provide lifeline support to nearly 1,000 families. This would not be possible without the help of incredible organisations like Worcester City Runs.
“We are extremely grateful for the awareness this charity partnership will bring and give thanks to anyone who signs up this year and chooses to fundraise for Acorns. More families than ever need our children’s hospice care and help can’t wait. With your support, we can make sure families caring for seriously ill children get the help they desperately need.”
The Worcester City Runs will return to the city on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September. Alongside the popular Worcester City Half Marathon and the 10k, the two-day event includes Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track initiative, and the Young Athletes Runs for under 11s and under 15s. Launched in 2014, the event is now well established on the sporting calendar and attracts thousands of participants and spectators every year. Acorns Children’s Hospice is recruiting a team of runners to take part in the event and raise funds, and the Worcester City Runs organisers will actively promote the partnership and help the charity to maximise the potential that it presents.
Places for all of the events at the 2024 Worcester City Runs can be booked at www.worcestercityrun.com. Anyone who is interested in running for Acorns Children’s Hospice should contact Acorns Events Team on events@acorns.org.uk. Find out more about the work of Acorns at www.acorns.org.uk/HelpCantWait.
