One of Cambridgeshire’s largest annual charity events, the Chariots of Fire relay race, has announced that it has raised over £1 million for local and regional charities since the event started in 1992.
Hewitsons Charitable Trust, the charity established and supported by leading law firm Hewitsons which organises and manages Chariots of Fire, made the announcement after the fundraising totals from the 2014 race, totals from previous races, were counted and verified.
Since its launch, an estimated 6,245 teams have taken part in the race, with approximately 37,470 individual runners pitting themselves against each other. The Chariots of Fire charity race follows in the footsteps of the famous film, with teams of six each running the scenic 1.7 mile course in a relay format through the streets and colleges of Cambridge, which include Clare, Kings and Trinity.
Each year a different local charity is selected as the official beneficiary from the race, with last year’s charity Arthur Rank Hospice Charity being presented with a cheque for £70,000. Previous charity recipients include Barnardo’s, Emmaus, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Home-Start Cambridge, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice, Cam Sight and The Papworth Trust amongst a selection of worthwhile charities.
Charles Hewitsons, senior partner at Hewitsons law firm and the Race Director, said: “When the race started over 20 years ago, I would never have imagined that we would surpass the £1 million fundraising total! Each year it’s a pleasure to witness the benefits provided by Chariots of Fire to the selected charity, and the continued level of support extended by the Cambridge community, University Colleges and our event suppliers being vital in making this level of fundraising a reality.”
He continues: “Our goal is to continue this excellent fundraising event, attract more runners and continue to facilitate genuine lasting legacies for each official recipient charity”
Lord Puttnam, creator of the film “Chariots of Fire, started the race in 2003 and said: “I am very proud of the fact that Chariots of Fire has inspired, and continues to inspire such a worthwhile initiative, which raises money for charities in Cambridgeshire year after year after year. It must have struck a chord, for I know of no other film that manages to evoke the same reaction”.
Fully established in the city’s event calendar, the 2015 Chariots of Fire will take place on Sunday 20th September with team registrations opening during May 2015. Full details about registering to take part in the event are available on the Chariots of Fire website.
Media coverage on the £1million announcement from Media Partner, the Cambridge News, can be found here.
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