Holbrook Striders enjoy fantastic Gosport Golden Mile event

After the cost of hosting the club’s annual half marathon race has been paid for, the remaining money is distributed to charities and worthy causes nominated by club members.

The £9,000 profit from last year’s race has now been distributed.

Money has gone to St Francis School, Partners Through Pain, Kitbags and Berets (part of Alzheimer’s Society), Leesland C Of E Controlled Junior School, Gosport Young Runners Club, and the charity Hampshire Asbestos Support & Awareness Group.

Others to benefit include the Rowan’s Hospice, Loud and Proud Volunteer Group, AFC Dynamo Football Club, Aggie Weston’s, Fit for Felix, Alverstoke Infant School, Depression Friends, St Michael’s Hospice, and The Mayor of Gosport’s Charity Appeal.

Some of the money also went to Holbrook Primary School for their cross country team, set up by Rachel Gee and Leanne East, in 2015, after they were asked to offer extracurricular clubs to enrich the children’s learning.

Having no field of their own, they struck up an agreement with Bridgemary School to borrow their field on a Thursday lunchtime.

There are now 12 children who turn up twice a week and they have named their group Holbrook Striders.

Running has increased their self-confidence, self-esteem, and physical capabilities.

Kerry Irwin-Hall is on the Gosport Half Marathon race committee and is also a member of Gosport Road Runners.

She said: ‘As a club, we were very pleased to donate £500 towards new running gear for this little team, and have had the pleasure of seeing them complete the Golden Mile in Stokes Bay on Father’s Day.

‘This is such a success story, and one of the reasons I am proud to be a member of Gosport Road Runners.

‘The best part for me, was helping hand out the medals to some of these children, at the end of the race, and then hearing from Rachel Gee, how well they all did, and how each one of them had family there supporting them.’