Team FORCE tops £100K total from Great West Run

WOW! Take a bow Team FORCE.

Our runners and supporters have raised an incredible £100,500 from the 2024 Great West Run.

The money will help FORCE in its mission to offer free support and advice to anyone locally affected by cancer.

Around 260 runners took to the start line as part of Team FORCE for the annual half marathon around the streets of Exeter in May.

Awareness

One of those was Exeter mum-of-three Amy Green, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer in 2022 at the age of 38.

Amy entered the race to prove to herself that she could do it, to raise awareness of life with a stoma and to raise as much as she could as a thank you to FORCE for the support she received from our charity.

Amy, pictured with  her daughter Phoebe and friend Jackie (far right) presenting a cheque to FORCE’s Chloe Richardson (left), said: “The day itself is full of emotions, the best feeling ever is when you cross the finish line , all the training paid off and I was proud of my achievement. I was so grateful to the FORCE volunteers for their support during the race. I especially needed it when I got to the top of university hill, all the encouragement, excitement and enthusiasm from them was really appreciated.”

Our link with the Great West Run has proved so successful that FORCE has now been announced as the event’s official charity partner for the next three years.

Special

Next year’s Bishop Fleming Great West Run will take place on Sunday May 25. You can enter what will be a special 40th anniversary edition via the FORCE website or at https://thegreatwestrun.co.uk/

So far 160 people have already signed up to run for FORCE next year.

By registering for FORCE for the 2025 event, runners will get a FREE entry into the event, a FREE FORCE running vest and support to help reach their fundraising target. In return, each runner will be asked to raise a minimum of £90.

Chloe Richardson, who co-ordinated Team FORCE, said: “We are absolutely blown away by the support we received from local runners and by the incredible amount of sponsorship they raised.

“It was incredible to see so many people in FORCE vests on that amazing day in May. We got such a buzz out of seeing people achieve their personal goals and be a part of something so special. I’ve never known an atmosphere like it.

“And we can’t wait to do it all again next year.”