Halesowen fun run set to be a first for the borough (From Halesowen News)

Halesowen fun run set to be a first for the borough

8:30am Thursday 12th July 2012 in News

ATHLETES and charity fundraisers will be pounding the streets of Halesowen when the town hosts its first ever fun run this autumn.

After months of behiind-the-scenes preparations, the Rotary Club of Halesowen and Rowley Regis has announced the inaugural run will be held on Sunday, September 16.

Good causes throughout the Black Country will benefit from the five kilometre event, which organisers hope will become a firm fixture for years to come.

The route will include Queensway, Bromsgrove Road, Whitehall Road, Church Road, Rumbow and Birmingham Road and thousands of spectators are expected to line the course to cheer on the runners.

The Halesowen Fun Run is the brainchild of Rotarian Alan Bowler who believes an Olympic year is the perfect time to launch the event.

He said: “This will be a great event for the town as there is nothing like it in Dudley borough at the moment.

“It is a great first for the town and we are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for local charities.”

He added: “We did not want the run to be in a park but in the centre of the town and we are delighted to have got permission to close all the roads on the day.”

Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club has been enlisted to help out with the event and businesses are being approached to sponsor it.

Mr Bowler said: “We are delighted to have the expertise of Halesowen Athletics Club on board and we are hoping the event will bring the community together for a fantastic day.”

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris is backing the fun run to be a success.

He said: “I am looking forward to taking part in the fun run in September, which I know will raise a lot of money for some very good causes.

“The event promises to be a great day out. I hope that the organisers will work hard to make sure that local traders suffer as little disruption as possible but benefit from the additional people that the fun run will bring to the town.”