Bud’s Runners go faster with bite-sized balls
A popular charity 5K fun run at the University of Birmingham is celebrating its fourth year with a fresh course, fresh fundraising goals and a big birthday to celebrate. The runners will also benefit from GO BITES® bite-sized energy balls, handed out by new corporate sponsors “Go Faster Food”.
“Bud’s Run” has already raised over £50 000 for Parkinson’s UK, and hopes to smash the £70 000 barrier when it’s held again on Saturday the 21st October 2017. “Bud’s Run” was the brainchild of much-loved athletics coach Bud Baldaro, the former UK Athletics Marathon Coach who’s been based at the University for over a decade.
Bud’s encouraged and helped hundreds of distance and middle-distance runners of all standards and ages, in a career spanning over forty years. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009, Bud’s determined to use his love of running to help fund research into this long-term condition.
Bud said: “Let’s make the fourth Bud’s Run the biggest and best yet. We hope to have over 700 runners join in our 5k fun run and over 70 under 11s participate in our junior dash. Please do your best to support us to achieve our fundraising target. You’ll find all the details at www.budsrun.co.uk”
Along with the 5k run, there will be a fun run for the under 11s, old school interactive team games organsied by Rabble, and a raffle. That’s not forgetting a sports masseur on hand, wood-fired pizza and plenty of tea, coffee and cake.
An exciting development for this year’s event is Go Faster’s involvement. Bud’s Runners will have the opportunity to meet with Kate and the team from Go Faster who will be sharing nutritional pearls of wisdom.
Kate Percy (pictured above) said, "Go Faster Food is delighted to be Bud's Run's Healthy Eating Partner this year! Founded by marathon runner, author and cook Kate Percy, Go Faster Food is dedicated to fuelling and inspiring active lifestyles. Kate's highly acclaimed GO FASTER FOOD recipe books, EAT LIKE AN ATHLETE education programme and recently launched GO BITES® energy balls are used by Olympians, elite and amateur athletes and people looking for great-tasting energy. We'll be providing runner's recipe inspiration and nutrition advice and on Race Day we'll be handing our our delicious Go Bites®, and Kate will be signing copies of her latest book, GO FASTER FOOD for your ACTIVE FAMILY. Looking forward to meeting all the Bud's runners! For more information, see www.gofasterfood.com."
Although very much a family fun run, previous Bud’s Runs have attracted athletics stars both past and present. They include world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe (handicap 9.6), middle distance legend Steve Cram (handicap 31.1), Olympian and 1500m World Championship Silver Medallist Hannah England (handicap -1.5 and currently coached by Bud) and Olympian Sara Treacy (also currently coached by Bud).
In October 2016, UK Athletics formally recognised Bud’s commitment and outstanding achievements in athletics by inducting him into their Hall of Fame, alongside athletics greats such as Lord Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram. In the last two weeks The British Miler’s Club awarded its Lifetime Services to Coaching Winner 2017 to Bud Baldaro.
Sarah Wakeman, Parkinson’s UK Regional Fundraiser said, “ As a charity we rely solely on the generosity of our supporters and Bud’s Run has raised a fantastic amount of money to date but just as importantly raised awareness of the condition. We would love everyone to get involved on Saturday October 21 to celebrate Bud’s 70th and to help us hit the £70,000 mark.”
For more information on Bud’s Run, please visit www.budsrun.co.uk.