Aspire Defence supports the Tidworth 10k Race and 3k Fun Run

12 Oct 09

Tidworth race and run

Aspire Defence is proud to support the Tidworth 10k Race and 3k Fun Run starting and finishing at Tedworth House on Sunday 1 November to raise funds for Salisbury District Hospital’s Stars Appeal.

Aspire Defence, a joint venture between Carillion and KBR, is delivering the largest infrastructure Private Finance Initiative ever let by the Ministry of Defence – Project Allenby/Connaught. With one simple mission, the project aims to make soldiers’ lives better for nearly 19,000 soldiers (20% of the British Army) by providing modern, high quality, fully serviced, purpose-built living and working accommodation across the garrisons on Salisbury Plain and in Aldershot.

Colin Kenton, Tidworth’s Garrison Facilities Director for Aspire Defence Services Limited said, “We are delighted to be able to support the Tidworth 10k Race and 3k Fun Run. We are committed to improving the quality of life for the soldiers within the garrisons and now we can extend that support to our local community through the Stars Appeal.

”Dave Cates, Director of Fundraising at the Stars Appeal, said, "It's great that a company who are so important to so many service families in the Salisbury area have been able to support this event. Aspire Defence's support is vital to help cover the costs of running this event. We urge all runners to register and start collecting sponsors as soon as they can. This year our focus is on our Caring 4 Kids Campaign, which aims to help fund a new children's unit here at Salisbury District Hospital. This will make a huge improvement to the lives of around 6,000 children a year who visit the hospital, and about 15% of those children are from service families."

Originally the brain child of Tidworth-based soldiers from 215 Signal Squadron, the fifth annual Tidworth 10k Race and 3k Fun Run will take place on Sunday 1 November. The 3k starts at approximately 10am and the 10k at approximately 10.45am. The event is now organised by the Stars Appeal and supported by the 1st Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (215). The main sponsor is Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group and the event is being hosted by Garrison FM with support from Aspire Defence, the Salisbury Journal and Spire FM.

The event has grown each year from just 300 runners in 2005 to more than 1,000 in 2008. To date, over £80,000 has been raised for various projects at the hospital including the provision of one of Europe’s most advanced keyhole surgery suites.

The runs are a key part of the Stars Appeal’s annual fundraising. All runners are asked to raise sponsorship money towards an area of the hospital close to their heart, or for the Caring 4 Kids campaign. This campaign will help make life better for thousands of local children in hospital by funding additional equipment and facilities within a new children’s unit.

Both runs are open to runners of all abilities. Everyone taking part will receive a free Tidworth 10k t-shirt and commemorative medal as a reward for their efforts. To register for either run visit the Stars Appeal website or call 01722 429005. This event has sold out for the last three years so it is advisable to register before the final deadline of 23 October.