Spooky Dark Run success for Hope House and Ty Gobaith Childen’s Charities.

*North Wales Road Runner Dave Spofforth (*above) with his family.

Spooky Dark Run success for Hope House and Ty Gobaith Childen’s Charities... Report by Don Hale. Photographs by Steve Jeffery.

A slightly early but rather spooky Halloween style 5k Dark Run took place last Saturday night from the RSPB site near Llandudno Junction, and followed the Conwy 5k parkrun course under lights to help raise funds for Ty Gobaith and Hope House Children’s charities. CHECK OUT THE LATEST UPDATES AND DRONE FOOTAGE: https://youtu.be/ONwPKoIiM

It was not a race, yet the event still attracted 250 runners and walkers of all ages, who carried special Glow Sticks and head torches to help light their way across the bridge to the Cob, then out and back along the river path towards Deganwy Quay.
Backed by a superb team of event marshals and volunteers, the entrants enjoyed a great physical warm up at the start under bright floodlights with music, backed by a further disco set pitched along the Cob to give some additional musical bounce to all the determined fundraisers.

John Hatton (*below right) from North Wales Road Runners, who was one of the main inspirational promoters, and the MC on the night, said he was delighted by the response. 

He confirmed: “Saturday night at the Dark Run was absolutely brilliant! The atmosphere was friendly, and it gave adults and a lot of children a good feel factor during these troubled times.  
“We had a warm-up by Louise and Mindy from Aspire Fitness, who really got everyone jumping around, especially with all the entrants waving their multi-coloured glow sticks. The event was started by the Lovelady family whose son Alfie is supported by Ty Gobaith.
“I was the MC providing music at the start, and we also had a disco on the cob, plus Conwy Castle was lit up. Everyone, when finishing, said the atmosphere and marshals were fantastic, and they all want to do it again.
“The photographs were taken by Steve Jeffery, and we also had a drone filming at the Cob. The sponsors included Schneider, Llandudno Lions, Conwy Town Council, Bone & Payne, Fletcher & Poole, Lanyon & Bowdler, and Feet First. 
“Thanks were also expressed to Aspire Fitness, Roger W Jones, Kellogg, Bookers, Gerard’s, St John Ambulance, and Cade. And, a massive vote of thanks was given to the RSPB, who allowed the use of their car park and kept their cafe open until 8pm.”
John, who spent many exhausting hours last Saturday, first helping out at the Saturday morning parkun, before later returning to help set up the start area for the Dark Run, added: “The whole event involved raising money for this incredible cause. The start area included a specially constructed stage and a massive start/finish arch, which was all lit up in the Hospice colours. 
"Alfie’s parents Rachel and Colin later thanked the organisers who provide regular support to Alfie and his family. It was an amazingly colourful site.”

*(Pictured left). The Lovelady family at the Dark Run with Alfie, who has a degenerative illness.

**CONTACT DETAILS FOR ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP:

Ty Gobaith. Fundraising 01492-596581. Support 01492-651900. fundraising@tygobaith.org.uk, care@tygobaith.org.uk

Hope House: Fundraising 0161-671671. Support 01691-671999. fundraising@hopehouse.org.uk, care@hopehouse.org.uk

*LATEST NEWS UPDATE: Special Drone footage of the Dark Run now available online. This unique event raised over £6,500 for Hope House and Ty Gobaith Children Charities....check out this link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/ONwPKoIiM

 

Unique drone footage was arranged to capture some of the fun from this Dark Run from the air by Snapdrone. John Hatton explained the circumstances. 

He confirmed: “The drone was done by Snapdrone. Bob Armstrong from the Conwy parkrun knew him, and Bob’s grandson did the editing. 

“I first came up with the idea a few weeks ago, that a drone would be a good idea, and I mentioned it to Bob, and he said he could sort it. I met his grandson to say what I wanted. 

“I think it’s good that we have mixed the videos with still photographs. I specifically wrote the music for the video, it’s made up of 4 tracks percussion, and 3 tracks playing backing, finger style and lead, which we did in the studio, I played each track and then mixed.”