Almost a dozen teams from leading research charity the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) will be competing in this year’s world famous Spartan race taking place at the West Midlands Water Ski Centre in Warwickshire on Sunday 22 September. Each team will be representing a different GWCT county group, raising valuable funds to support the important conservation work of the Trust.
The Spartan Sprint is a physically testing but stimulating 5km race with ten or more obstacles, ranging from fire jumps to barbed wire crawls and other army-style challenges. Previous Spartan races have taken place across the US, the UK and around the world. This is the second year that the GWCT is represented, and the organisers hope to raise far more than the total of over £6,000 achieved in 2012. Some brave runners will be taking part in the even more demanding 12k race, which takes place on Saturday 21.
The Trust is hoping to raise a minimum of £4,000 per team or £1,000 per individual. The county team that raises the most sponsorship will win a 40-60 bird day for eight guns at Rotherfield.
Mel Dellow, the GWCT’s events organiser, took part in the gruelling 5k run last year. She said, "I wanted to duck out, I admit it, but powered on by the enthusiasm of my fellow Spartans I'm here again. Last year was incredibly hard and the course this year is apparently much tougher terrain. I'm both proud and amazed that over forty people will be running for us that weekend!"
This will be Mel's final year as the Trust's national events organiser for the Trust and all the runners are determined to make this a memorable and - hopefully - record-breaking swansong for her!
For more information, please contact Mel Dellow by email at mdellow@gwct.org.uk or call 07738 320339. To sponsor a Spartan for the GWCT please visit www.gwct.org.uk/spartan.
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Photocaption: This year's GWCT runners hope to outraise the £6,000 total achieved by the Trust in the 2012 Spartan race.
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk