There’s just one week to go before the RNLI’s Summer Sprint 2010 will be hitting the shoreline of Swansea Bay.
Thursday 29 July will see hundreds of runners of all ages taking part in the RNLI’s Summer Sprint, in Swansea.
But it’s still not too late to take part in this fabulous event in aid of the charity that saves lives at sea.
Entry forms have been stacking up for the 499 places available – and some top local runners and celebrities are in the starting line-up – but with just over a week to go to the event there are still a handful of places and opportunities to register for those still thinking of entering.
As well as entry forms being available at nearly 40 venues across the city there will also be a limited number of places availble for runners to enter on the night for the event, which begins outside the civic centre at 7pm.
Most of the leisure centres and swimming pools in the area have forms, along with hotels, museums and art galleries in the city (full list below).
The starting horn for the main 10k event will blast at 7pm, marking the beginning of RNLI Lifeguard Week, a series of activities across lifeguarded beaches in England and Wales, the aim of which is to help raise funds for the service and increase awareness of the beach safety messages the charity promotes. T
he funds raised from the Summer Sprint are intended to cover the costs of training and equipping five RNLI lifeguards in South Wales in coming years.
This 10k and 5k run is a unique running event, with an evening start to ensure low tides and a clear beach stretch, with the main course taking runners along the beach through to Blackpill.
There will also be a series of 500-metre sprints for the under-16s to take part in, starting at 7pm and the 5k race begins at 7.30pm.
Entries cost £12.50 for the 10km race and £10 for the 5km race. All funds raised will support RNLI lifeguards around Wales.
There will be prizes for the race winners (male and female) courtesy of Up and Running Swansea and The George.
As well as squash and nibbles for all participants at The George (Salt), Mumbles after the race.
The runners will also link up with participants in a sponsored Welly Walk, which is taking place on the same evening to raise funds for the RNLI’s Mumbles Tamar Lifeboat appeal.
The Welly Walk is starting at the Junction Café, Blackpill and walkers will trek along to Swansea’s Civic Centre, – the starting point of the Summer Sprint.
Members of Mumbles Surf Livesaving Club will be doing their bit on the night to help raise funds for the RNLI by supplying volunteers to help ensure the Summer Sprint runs smoothly.
All events will start on the beach outside the Civic Centre in Swansea where parking and changing facilities will be available.
RNLI events manager Wales and the West, Charlotte Bird, said: ‘The RNLI is there to assist all those who get into difficulties in the sea. To keep one lifeguard on patrol on any of the 150 beaches the charity covers costs the RNLI at least £1,000 each year. Running costs of the lifeguard service in 2009 were more than £8 million.
‘We are asking people to help the RNLI weather the economic storm and, by entering Summer Sprint, all the participants will be doing their bit to help fund the vital lifesaving work done by RNLI lifeguards.’
Anyone interested in participating in the race or being a volunteer assistant should contact RNLI events manager Charlotte Bird on 0121 780 6960 or email [email protected]
Summer Sprint entry forms are available from the Salt at the George in Mumbles, Up and Running, and many local gyms in the Swansea area.
Entry forms are also available from the venues below:
1. Penlan LC
2. Penyrheol LC & Pool
3. Cefn Hengoed LC
4. Morriston LC
5. Tennis Centre
6. Bishopston LC
7. Dylan Thomas Centre
8. Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
9. Swansea Museum
10. Guildhall & Brangwyn Hall
11. Civic Centre (Main desk)
12. Central Library
13. Archives
14. Nat Waterfront Museum
15. Welsh National Pool
16. Plantasia
17. Ty’r Blodau
18. Swansea TIC
19. Mumbles TIC
20. Discovery Centre
21. Taliesin, Swansea Uni
22. Park and Ride – Landore
23. Park and Ride – Fabian Way
24. Park and Ride – Fforestfach
25. The LC
26. Liberty Stadium
27. Gorseinon Dev Trust
28. Library HQ, Gorseinon
29. The Pier, Mumbles
30. Castellamare
31. Travelodge (City Centre)
32. Dragon Hotel
33. Marriott Hotel
34. The Towers Hotel
35. Ramada Jarvis Hotel
36. The Ibis Hotel .
Forms can also be downloaded from the website www.rnli.org.uk/summersprint or by emailing [email protected]
