running4renewables beats the heat to be a great success!

The first ever running4renewables initiative set up by Daniel Rafferty in aid of Renewable World has proved to be a great success. Over 80 runners from all over Europe took part in running events including the Copenhagen Marathon, Ediburgh Marathon and Half Marathon, Scottish Half Marathon and Hairy Haggis Team Relay.

Runners braved the 26 degree heat in Edinburgh on 23rd of May to take place in the final running4renewables event which saw Finnbarr Coghlan beat Gero Vella by just 3 minutes, finishing in 3 hours and 46 minutes in the full marathon distance. Impressive for a man who had only ever run 5k before signing up for the running4renewables challenge!

In the Scottish Half Marathon, Lucy Greenhill from Joint Nature Conservation Society narrowly missed out to James Townsend from Generations Power who finished in an equally impressive 1 hour and 41 minutes.

In the Hairy Haggis Team Relay, there were 17 running4renewables teams competing, including runners from Natural Power, Community Energy Scotland, WJM, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Smartest Energy and Scottish Renewables but it was GreenPower who snatched the title for fastest team from Shepherd and Wedderburn, finishing in an amazing 3 hours and 23 minutes.

Sports Therapy Scotland were on hand to provide runners with a well deserved massage to ease the aches and pains and even raised another £60 in donations for Renewable World by offering their services to other runners.

Marathon veteran Colin Bullen, from Henriot Watt University who was running his 7th marathon proved that he was not only experienced at running, but also at fundraising as he raised the most money for Renewable World - over £1000 in donations.

The event has raised almost £30,000 in donations so far which will go towards funding Renewable World's programmes in energy poor communities in the developing world. Some of the funds will be used to complete the micro hydro project in Mozambique by paying for transmission and distribution lines and electricification of the local school and the rest will go towards funding a project in the region of choice of the running4renewables participants.   

To sign up for this years event visit our sign up page here

If you are planning on entering a sporting event in 2011 and would be interested in fundraising for Renewable World please email Jen Glyn at jen.glyn@renewable-world.org or call 01273 234 801 to find out how we can support you!