The Kirste 5 Memorial Race
25th July 2021
The Kirste 5 Memorial Race 2020
If you do want to donate to the 2020 charity pages, they can be found here
Friends,
Our race committee has been wrestling with the decision to host The Kirste 5 Memorial Run 2020 this year in light of the current situation involving Covid-19.
As you know, this pandemic has drastically reached into our lives, our homes, and our communities.
The running community has been impacted with cancelled races, limited training opportunities, etc., and while running for many of us is our lifeline to both physical and mental health; we’ve all had to take a step back.
There will be more races, more opportunities, more great times, more chances to run great paths on the Kirste route, but we feel we would be reckless if we did not cancel The Kirste 5 Memorial Run for 2020.
We have a loyal base of participants, incredible base of volunteers, and an extremely supportive and involved community, which we are ever thankful.
Lastly, stay safe and thank you for putting us in your calendar for 2021.
Karl, Mike, Ian
Our Virtual Race remains open for 2020:
A charming 5 mile route heading to Hockley Woods, returning through Cherry Orchard Jubilee Park, New England Wood, & Grove Wood.
Raced under UKA Rules – Permit Number: 2020-38938
Race Entry Fees remain at 2019 prices, as we would love to fill our Race once again and break the £50,000 total for monies raised for our charities!
Kirste was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent six bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She passed away on February 9th 2012, at the age of just 42 after raising more than £50,000 for breast cancer charities by running 23 marathons while fighting the disease.
Her smiling face will be forever missed.
All profits from this race will be donated equally between Macmillan Cancer Support (261017), and Southend Breast Unit (1057266).
We are so pleased and humbled that The Finish Line Fund will be sponsoring our First Aid Cover, through EuroMed Ambulance for our 2020 event.
We are proudly inclusive of all members of the LGBT+ community and we welcome entrants as female, male or non-binary.
We are committed to ‘spreading the message far and wide that there is no room for homophobia, transphobia and biphobia in sport’ by signing up to the Sports Charter.
Race Review 2019
Big thank you to all our lovely volunteers from across the Clubs and Communities!
Also thanks to all our runners, who support this race every year.
Proud to present our fundraising cheques to Southend Hospital Breast Unit and Macmillan Cancer Support from Kirste5 Race 2019. £5,500 split between both great charities.
Well done to all our winners to, even though we were all winners !
Men
1. Stuart Cable Leigh Striders
2. Stephen Kirsh. Leigh Striders
3. Sean Mcarlane Leigh Striders
Ladies
1. Lindsey Colman Southend AC
2. Samantha Cone Leigh Striders
* 3. Katie Spicer Leigh Striders
* corrected due to a runner using incorrect race number on the day.
Team
(fastest 5 athletes from each Club, male or female)
1st Leigh on Sea Striders
(Stuart Cable, Stephen Kirsh, Sean Mcarlane, James Burns, Chris Mclay)
2nd Rayleigh RAT’s Runners
3rd Phoenix Striders
“Superb,uplifting,inspirational – just as Kirste would have wanted.
This is a memorial race in honour of my extraordinary brave and special wife Kirste.
She loved running because of the camaraderie ,warmth and frienship she found with fellow runners.
These gave Kirste the courage to fight cancer and to continue running for seven years. This race exemplifies all these values and is also a lovely friendly and great value race.”
To design a more fitting tribute would be difficult if not impossible, the event you guys created is the perfect tribute. You will find nobody that knew Kirste saying anything different.
I am certain anyone that knew Kirste knows how much she loved running and encouraging others to run.”
John Bowman
“Thank you to all our Marshals, Partners and to all the Runners.
We had some excellent comments about the race again this year, so thank you for making it a special day. ”
Karl Cadman, Race Director
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