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July 2016

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Unique underground race to be held to support new facility

Underground run

As part of Vale Royal AC's fundraising efforts for a new track facility runners are being invited to a unique 10k event – it takes place underground in the country’s biggest rock salt mine.

The club are holding the event to raise funds on two fronts: to help fund a desperately-needed new all-weather athletics track for the local community of Mid Cheshire, the need for which was highlighted to England Athletics CEO Chris Jones during his Club VIsit to Vale Royal AC, with the club using a clay track at present; and they also hope to raise money for cardiac screening charity C-R-Y. You can find out more of the work of C-R-Y at www.englandathletics.org/cry.

During the Club VIsit, Chris Jones noted, "It is alarming to see athletes and coaches having to work on poorly maintained cinder and clay tracks and without easy access to changing facilities. England Athletics will ensure that local partners are aware of the problem and will try to facilitate support as best we can to ensure the club has facilities that are truly worthy of the outstanding contributions that the hard working volunteers make for its athletes."

England Athletics' Head of Local Delivery Chris Mallender is really encouraged that the club is taking such a pro-active approach to raising funds to directly support the development of a new facility in the current challenging financial climate being faced by so many facility owners and operators. "In order for our member clubs to thrive, we fully acknowledge the need for them to operate from a physical environment that meets the needs of existing and potential members from the local community."

England Athletics and runbritain have given their support to the event which is planned for Saturday 3rd September 2016 and will use some of the 160 square miles of underground tunnels that run under the Cheshire countryside.  Using the mine’s motorway-sized, roadway-like caverns, the run will take a 10k route in what is hoped will be a world first.  Winsford Salt Mine, which provides much of the country’s salt for the road network, is usually closed to the public – and so this will be an amazing opportunity to experience an exclusive and unique running venue.

Places for the prestigious charity run will be highly-prized with only 120 slots availble for charity fund-raisers and runners.  The event will be heavily marshalled, with runners wearing reflective clothing during the run and is open to those aged 18 and over.

Gordon Dunn, Managing Director of Compass Minerals’ Salt Mine in Winsford, and Nicola Dunbar, Chairman of the Mid Cheshire Development Board, have helped develop the event (also in memory of Gordon’s daughter Emily). Nicola said: "This is a unique opportunity for people to experience running in a working salt mine and we are extremely grateful to Gordon Dunn and the team at Winsford Salt Mine who have given so much time and operational support to make this amazing event possible."  Gordon added: “Compass Minerals is committed to innovation and playing its part in the local community. This run is a world first for the mine and we look forward to receiving applications from those interested in taking part. We hope to raise a considerable amount of money so those taking part are asked to pledge to help us in that aspiration."

Applications for entry open this week and successful applicants will be notified by July 30, 2016. The run is open to people aged 18 years and above.