COLERAINE RUNNERS URGED TO RAISE A ‘TENNER’ FOR TQ10K

Cool FM breakfast show presenters, Gareth Stewart and Connor Phillips, have signed up to take part in this year’s race, which takes place on Sunday, 21st April, and have called on anyone running to consider raising a ‘Tenner for TQ10K’. All proceeds will go to Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s Cash for Kids, which raises money to promote the social, physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people throughout Northern Ireland.

Co-sponsored by Titanic Quarter Limited and its telecommunications agent, Atlas Communications, and organised by Athletics NI, the event is now in its seventh year. As the official Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon warm-up race, the Titanic Quarter event has established itself as the largest standalone 10K race in Northern Ireland’s athletics calendar.

Denise Shields of Titanic Quarter Limited said: “TQ10K has formed a close partnership with Cash for Kids in recent years, providing a donation to the charity and welcoming the Cash for Kids team on the day to carry out fundraising. It’s fantastic to have Gareth and Connor signed up to run the race. We will once again be making a donation and this year we are also providing all participants with the direct opportunity to help raise much more.

“If every runner was able to get sponsored just a ‘Tenner for TQ10K’ then we could raise over £20,000 for Cash for Kids. A bumper prize, including concert tickets, will be awarded to the top fundraiser. We are extremely proud of the success the TQ10K has enjoyed in recent years, with a record-breaking 2,000 runners taking part last year, and we look forward to another exciting event this year.”

The race route will be the same as last year – starting and finishing at the public realm space at Abercorn Residential Complex (ARC) – and the family fun day will provide a range of activities for spectators to enjoy before, during and after the race.

Cool FM Breakfast Show presenter, Gareth Stewart, said: “There is always a great buzz amongst the Cash for Kids team during the build-up to the TQ10K and we can’t wait to take part, I’m not a big runner but I have been told that it’s quite a flat course so I’m hoping for a respectable time.”

Connor Stewart added: “I have watched the race for the past two years to support friends and family members taking part, but this will be my first time running it. It would be fantastic if as many runners as possible could raise a ‘Tenner for TQ10K’ and help fund the excellent work carried out by Cash for Kids all over the country.”

Cash for Kids has to date raised over £1 million to support local charities, including the NI Children’s Hospice and Barnardo’s NI. They also support individual children, families and community groups.

Entry forms are available from Athletics NI, other athletic clubs and leisure centres. Online entry is available at www.athleticsni.org, where there will also be access to a race map and details of the family fun day. The closing date for online entries is 15th April. Runners entering before the 31st March will be guaranteed to get their name printed on their race number.

John Allen, Secretary of Athletics NI, said: “Athletics NI are delighted to have Cash for Kids join the TQ10K again as the official race charity. This year’s ‘Tenner for the TQ10K’ campaign is an excellent way for runners to raise money for Cash for Kids whilst being a part of one of the largest 10Ks of the racing calendar. For those who have never participated in a 10K before, this is the perfect course as it’s so flat and a great opportunity to bring some friends and family along to cheer you on. Kids and the young at heart can also take part in the Junior Mile and TQ Sprint Challenge.

“The online entry process remains the same as in previous years, except participants will now also have the option of downloading a sponsorship form upon entering. The numbers are already looking good for this year and we strongly encourage people to go online and enter before April 15th.”

Last year hot favourite, Joe McAlister, won the men’s race. The St Malachy’s runner clocked a time of 30 minutes and 40 seconds to finish 11 seconds ahead of Annadale star Eddie McGinley. Julie Turley of Dromore took the ladies’ title with a time of 35 minutes and 53 seconds – 14 seconds quicker than second-placed Pauline Turley, a Beijing Olympic marathon runner.

All runners will this year once again receive a text message to their mobile phones once the race is over with details of their individual position, official time and category position. A LED screen will display every runner’s name, race position and time once they cross the finish line.

There is a total prize fund of £3,000, with each entrant receiving a special goody bag including a TQ10K tech t-shirt. Entry fees are £11 for athletic club members and £13 to unattached individual runners. The entry fee for the Junior Mile is £5.

Titanic Quarter is a leading destination for foreign direct investment in Northern Ireland, integrating advanced communication and technologies into the physical form and fabric of a new 21st Century City experience. Titanic Quarter is a pivotal centrepiece in a worldwide campaign to rebrand Belfast’s reputation and create a shared space in a new era for Northern Ireland.

Developing sustainable community regeneration through renewed civic pride and cohesion, it represents the City’s future, encouraging corporations to invest and encouraging young and old to return to these shores. The development is creating a vibrant new community in the heart of Belfast.