Sportsmatch grants £15,000 Award

After a successful trial last year, Run for the Children (RFTC), a series of races around the UK which raises money for children's charities, will kick off its 2003 programme with a 3km run in London's Regents Park on Wednesday 23rd April.

RFTC will hold nine races in total over the summer months in a variety of attractive and interesting locations* across the UK. The races are aimed at women and children but men are also encouraged to take part with their partners or kids. The races are not just for regular runners - 3km is less than two miles and participants can run, walk or stroll to the finish so there really is no excuse not to take part!

RFTC aims to raise more than £100,000 this year to support four children's charities: DEBRA, Coram Family, Children with Leukaemia and SportsAid.

To date, RFTC has raised £30,000 towards the cost of putting on the races through a combination of corporate sponsorship from Informa Group plc and Brook Street Bureau PLC and a grant from Sportsmatch, the government body which matches pound for pound commercial business sponsorship.

While there is no obligation on runners to raise money for charity, participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £30 in sponsorship. Entry for children under 15 is free while adults pay £8 each.

If you would like more information about how to get involved in RFTC, either as a runner, a marshal or to buy one of our specially-designed T-shirts, please call us on: 01424 428 467 or visit our website at www.runforthechildren.co.uk .

Says Peter Rigby, Chairman of corporate sponsor Informa Group plc:

"This is a fantastic, healthy and fun way of raising money for very good causes and we are pleased to be involved with Run for the Children. We have had a good response from our employees who are all looking forward to putting on their running shoes and taking part on 23rd April.

"We would like to thank SportsMatch for matching the corporate sponsorship. This is a great initiative and provides a real boost for grass roots projects such as Run for the Children."