Growers urged to take on pandemic - one mile at a time

GROWERS are being encouraged to join a running competition that will raise awareness and funds for farming charities impacted by the lack of fundraising events this year

Launching today (October 12th) to coincide with #AgMentalHealthWeek, the challenge, #Run1000, is calling on people to sign up to be part of one of five teams – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the rest of the world. The £20 joining fee will be divided equally between five charities, selected by the team captains – The Farming Community, Embrace Farm, The Do More Agriculture Foundation, RSABI and DPJ Foundation. 

The competition, which will take place from January 1st to 31st 2021, will see each team run 1,000 miles, with the nation that reaches the milestone first announced the winner. A team captain will lead each nation, and a private Strava group will record the collective running distance.
Sheena Horner from Scotland founded the idea. “I got back into running at the beginning of 2020 by participating in my local ParkRun," she said. "When lockdown prevented the local community from meeting weekly, I started running on my own but I quickly realised, that, for me, ParkRun was not just about my fitness, but also the social interaction with others. 

“It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, we have all faced challenges with the pandemic and for many this has had a significant impact on our mental health. We wanted to demonstrate through #Run1000 that we are all facing this together and that you may not be able to physically meet, but you can be part of an online community.”

England team captain Charles Anyan said: “Mental health is a big problem in agriculture and these charities unite all our #Run1000 nations as they are at the forefront of the battle. They work tirelessly to pick us up when we fall. They do a remarkable job.”
To take part, visit http://www.agri5nations.com/

Photo: skeeze from Pixabay