Help Prostate Cancer and sign up for the first ever '˜Portrush Five Mile'

Local man, Mervyn Thompson is organising a five mile road race in Portrush later this summer in memory of his father, Allen Thompson, who lost his battle with Prostate Cancer five years ago, at the age of 69.

Mervyn is well known to local runners through his role at Portrush parkrun, he is also a member of Springwell Running Club.

Entries are now being accepted for the run, which will take place on Friday 26th August at 7.30pm from the Watersports Centre at East Strand.

All proceeds will be in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

On Friday, Mervyn met with Stephen Ball of Specsavers in Coleraine, who have come on board as the main sponsor of the event.

“I’d just like to thank Specsavers, and the other local businesses for their support,” said Mervyn.

“Entries opened last week, and it has been steady so far.

“I know if folk are anything like me they will not register until a few weeks before,” he joked.

Entries will be taken on the night from 5.30pm, however you can pre register online via athleticsni.org, or download a form via the ‘Portrush 5 Mile Road Race’ facebook page, especially as there are only a very limited number t-shirts available.

Mervyn, who has a UK Ambassadors Role for parkrun says the event has given him a chance to combine two passions - a passion for running, and a passion for organising: “This event is right in the middle of the peak running season, so I am hoping that there will be a good turn out on the night, so that we can raise as much as possible for a charity that is very close to my heart.

“Encourage your running buddies to have a look at the facebook page and sign up,” he said.

The five mile route will be as follows: The race will start near the world famous Royal Portrush Golf Club, confirmed as hosting the Open in 2019 Runners will proceed out Dunluce Road as far as Magheracross viewing point car park, taking in the stunning picturesque views of the ocean along the way. The route will see participants taking on a small lap of car park, before running back down Dunluce Road, finishing behind Watersports Centre building at East Strand. Mervyn went on to thank local businesses for their support: Brankins Estate Agents, Brian Scott Engineering, Pest Solutions, Moore Stephens, Roadside Garages, Coleraine Foot Clinic, Skerries Holiday Park, Ulster Stores Ltd, TBF Thompson (Garvagh) Ltd, 55’North, New York Inn.

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