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Once again, staff from leading law firm Hewitsons will be donning their running gear to take part in Cambridge’s most anticipated charity race of the year, Chariots of Fire.

One of four Hewitsons teams entered will be lead by Patrick Cooney. “A number of us from the team have run in Chariots previously and we are very much looking forward to this year’s race.”

Patrick continued, “Chariots is a great event to enter with your friends or colleagues as it encourages camaraderie and team spirit. It’s also a good opportunity to get fit and work towards a training goal. It does of course help knowing that you are raising money for fantastic local charities and this will spur us on to run faster on the day.”

Home-Start Cambridge & District helps to reconnect and reintegrate families with their community. Children, parents and the wider community all benefit from Home-Start Cambridge & District’s work.

The charities volunteers help to reduce isolation and increase social support networks, strengthen parent-child relationships, improve the parents’ emotional health and wellbeing, help develop parenting skills, improve children’s health, well being and development, increase access to health, education and community services.

Wallace Cancer Care aims to ease the suffering and distress of many cancer patients, their carers and families by providing a range of support and information services in their two drop-in centres.

The Information Centre in Addenbrooke’s Hospital concourse is a place to talk things through with former oncology nurses, and is particularly accessible to in- and out-patients, their families and carers. The larger Wallace House in Red Cross Lane (a short 3 minute walk from Oncology Department) is set in lovely gardens and provides the venue for complementary therapies, counselling, talks, workshops, courses, and support groups. Patients can also drop-in for a cup of tea and a chat, or simply rest and revive before and after appointments, or when treatment or appointments have been delayed.

Charles Hewitson, race director and senior partner of Hewitsons, said, “We are delighted to be able to support two very worthwhile and local causes.”

“Chariots of Fire is a great opportunity for local organisations and college members to join together for a great cause, whilst getting fit in the process. For those who don’t want to run in the race, it is also a great fun day out to come along and support the teams.”

Teams run the picturesque 1.7 mile route in relay format through Cambridge city centre, the colleges and along the backs. The event is based on the famous film and recreates the celebrated run through Trinity College.

And it’s not too late to enter a team and get involved! To register your team online, click here.

A BAFTA and Emmy award winning British Comedienne is set to fire the starting gun at this year’s Chariots of Fire charity relay race.

Jennifer Saunders, who created and starred in Absolutely Fabulous as well as Jam & Jerusalem and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, is lending her support to Cambridge-based Wallace Cancer Care, one of two charities set to receive a boost of funds from generous runners from the race in September.

Her support will mean a boost of funds for the charity inspired by former oncology nurse Mary Wallace. The free services provided by the charity aim to ease the suffering and distress of many cancer patients, their carers and families.  They provide a range of services including complementary therapies, counselling and self-help groups, information and advice or just the chance to sit quietly and have a reassuring chat and a cup of tea in one of their two drop-in centres.

Jennifer said: “I am very happy to be able to support Wallace Cancer Care. Having recently undergone treatment for breast cancer myself I understand how very important it is to have the kind of support and help that Wallace Cancer Care provides.”

Chariots of Fire is the region’s largest charity relay race and follows a scenic 1.7 mile route through the colleges and Backs of Cambridge, following in the footsteps of the famous film which documented the British team’s path to victory in the 1924 Olympic Games. This year, along with Wallace Cancer Care, HomeStart, Cambridge & District, will also benefit from the funds raised by runners and supporters on the day.

Home-Start, Cambridge & District, supports families who may be struggling to cope with a variety of issues including postnatal illness, multiple births, disability, family breakdown or bereavement; they may feel isolated and unable to connect with their local community.

Race director, Charles Hewitson, said: “It’s a fantastic boost for the race to have Jennifer as this year’s starter and we are very grateful to her for giving up her time. It will help us achieve our goal of raising a lot of money for these two worthy charities. We are expecting plenty of spectators to come along and cheer on the teams this year, both on Queens’ Green and along the historic race route through the city centre and Kings, Clare and Trinity Colleges.”

The race will take place from 9.30am on Sunday 19 September from Queens’ Green, Cambridge. For further information or to enter a team into the event, visit www.chariots-of-fire.co.uk or contact Alison Hickford on 01223 461155.

With plenty of prizes on offer at this year’s Chariots of Fire charity relay race, runners will have a great incentive to battle it out for the top spots in a variety of categories.

Based on the famous film that celebrated the exploits of the 1924 British Olympic team, the event recreates the running course through Cambridge and now involves two and a half thousand runners.

From all male, all female and mixed, to college and veteran team categories, there is no shortage of options for runners to choose from. This year sees the advent of a new category, with the veterans teams now split into veteran mixed as well as male and female categories.

The fastest team in each category will receive a trophy to hold onto for the entire year, with their team name and race timing printed in the paper and event website the day after the event and possibly even their photograph!

Charles Hewitson, Race Director and Senior Partner at Hewitsons, said, “As Chariots has grown into such an iconic event in the local community, it is a real honour for teams to be named the winner of a category. Many runners attach a real sense of achievement to giving the race their best shot in an attempt to win, especially for the overall fastest team who will receive the coveted Sir Arthur Marshall trophy.”

“There is also a fun side to the event, as the team who provides the most laughter and entertainment for the crowds on the day is awarded the People’s Cup. Last year this was awarded to the team from John Lewis who managed to balance a glass of pink champagne on a tray as they ran!”

This year runners are raising money for two local and worthwhile charities – Home-Start, Cambridge & District and Wallace Cancer Care. The race follows in the footsteps of the famous film, taking a 1.7 mile route around the town, along The Backs and through some of the City’s most beautiful Colleges.

The race is sponsored by leading local law firm Hewitsons and is supported by the Cambridge News.

The race takes place this year on Sunday 19 September, starting from Queens’ Green in Cambridge. To enter teams into the race, visit www.chariots-of-fire.co.uk to register online. For further information contact Alison Hickford at admin@chariots-of-fire.co.uk or call 01223 461155.

A charity which supports vulnerable families is set to benefit from the generosity of thousands of runners later this year.

Home-Start Cambridge & District supports families who may be struggling to cope with a variety of issues including postnatal illness, multiple births, disability, family breakdown or bereavement; they may feel isolated and unable to connect with their local community.

The charity is one of two who will receive money raised through this year’s Chariots of Fire charity relay race, which will take place on Sunday 19 September. Half of the funds will go to Wallace Cancer Care.

Domestic violence, drug and alcohol related issues may make it difficult for families to engage with social services but by engaging with families at an early stage as difficulties begin to emerge, Home-Start support can prevent issues developing into more serious problems.

Home-Start Cambridge & District’s share of sponsorship will be used to expand its services. The charity currently has 48 home visiting volunteers who visit local families on a weekly basis to offer friendship and support.

The charity’s fundraising trustee, Victoria Seabright, said: “We are so pleased to have been selected as one of the Chariots of Fire charities – it will give us a vital boost to our fundraising efforts. Requests for our services are currently outstripped by demand. Each year we train more volunteers to support local families and in an environment where statutory funding is under such pressure we welcome such a fantastic opportunity to boost our fundraising efforts and expand our capacity. Our Chariots team are the ‘The False Starts’ consisting of our scheme manager; Rita Levitt and her daughter, Nina; Helen and Iona, two of our volunteers; and James Ramsden and Colin Hulett, two of our supporters. They are already in training. I’m sure they will perform fantastically on the day.”

Charles Hewitson, Race Director and Senior Partner at Hewitsons, said: “The money raised by the event will be a huge boost for both charities and provide essential funding for them. Every team’s sponsorship money will make a crucial difference to those who depend upon these charities for support.”

Chariots of Fire takes place on Sunday 19 September, on Queens’ Green in Cambridge. Teams are made up of 6 members of varying categories, who run the course in relay format.

Team can register online now here.

A thriving local charity, established just six years ago, is set to benefit from the generosity of thousands of runners later this year.

Wallace Cancer Care works to ease the suffering and distress caused by cancer to patients, their families and carers from the initial diagnosis, throughout treatment, and when lives need to be put back together once treatment is over.

The charity is one of two who will receive money raised through this year’s Chariots of Fire charity relay race, which will take place on Sunday 19 September. Half of the funds will also go to Home-Start, Cambridge and District.

Wallace Cancer Care’s share of sponsorship will be used to expand its services. The charity runs two full-time drop-in centres that support cancer patients, an Information Centre in the main concourse of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, staffed by former Oncology nurses and specially trained volunteers, and a larger Complementary Care Centre in a house a short walk from the Oncology Department in Red Cross Lane.

The charity’s fundraising manager, Kirsty Keegan, said: “Our two centres provide a warm and welcoming space where support and attention to the practical and psychological needs of cancer patients and those who care for them are provided. We are so pleased to have been selected as one of the Chariots of Fire charities – it will give us a vital boost to our fundraising efforts.

Our very special Chariots team are the ‘Wallace Wanderers’ consisting of 2 husband and wife teams; Ian & Sarah Hinson and Tim & Natalie Quinnell as well as the son of one of our founding trustees Oliver Pugh.  We also have a special guest runner who we are keeping under wraps for the moment!  They have yet to all meet but are very keen runners and are already in training.  They will (I’m sure) give the other Chariots’ teams a run for their money when it comes to race day!”

Chariots of Fire Race Director, Charles Hewitson, senior partner at law firm Hewitsons says: “Wallace Cancer Care is a fantastic charity which provides an invaluable service to those affected by cancer. We are very pleased to be helping the work they do and make sure more people have access to the facility. Chariots of Fire is a great opportunity for local organisations and college members to join together for a great cause, whilst getting fit in the process. For those who don’t want to run in the race, it is also a great fun day out to come along and cheer the teams along.”

Chariots of Fire takes place on Sunday 19 September, on Queens’ Green in Cambridge. Teams are made up of 6 members of varying categories, who run the course in relay format.

Team can register online at www.chariots-of-fire.co.uk