Michelmores Charity Run raises record amount for child bereavement charity

 This year's annual Michelmores 5k Charity Run has raised a record breaking £32,855 for its Charity of the Year, Balloons. Over 1,100 runners took to the streets of Exeter in September 2017 to celebrate the city and fundraise for the charity.

Balloons provides crucial pre and post bereavement support to children and young people who have lost someone significant in their lives. It is the only charity to offer this specialist service in Exeter.

The route started and finished at Exeter's historic Cathedral Yard and was hosted by Andrew Dudley of The Exeter Chiefs, who introduced the race and cheered the finishers across the line.

All money raised has been donated to Balloons, which will be added to an overall total to be released at the end of the year.
Sara Bennett, Balloons CEO, commented:

"We are overjoyed to hear that this year's Charity Run was a record breaking result. It really has become a race that brings the whole city together and the team at Balloons look forward to volunteering and running it each year."

"This year we have been able to use the funding to extend our pre-bereavement work – in particular, supporting children with a terminally ill parent who can become increasingly isolated from friendship groups and activities which have been their source of stress reduction in the past. Our pre-bereavement phase presents the opportunity to professionally intervene to support children’s longer-term adjustment to parental loss. Thank you Michelmores for being such great ambassadors for this vital work."

If you are interested in sponsoring the Michelmores Charity Run in 2018, please contact Naomi Morris at Naomi.morris@michelmores.com or 01392 687655.