A NEW main sponsor is sought for the annual Bude Lifeboat Run and Junior Run.

The Bude Lifeboat Run and Junior Run is a RNLI fundraising event organised on behalf of the Bude RNLI Fundraising Committee by the local running club, Bude Run and Tri.

All surplus proceeds go to help fund the RNLI’s work in saving lives at sea and on inland waterways and used where the RNLI feels needs are the greatest.

After nine successful years as its main corporate sponsor Outdoor Adventure (OA) has decided to step down.

Rich Gill, owner of OA said: “I have been really proud to have been the main sponsor for so long and have no doubt another will step forward.”

This leaves the opportunity for a new corporate sponsor to headline this highly successful event.

The run, formerly known as the Sand and Culm Fun Run, originated in the 1980s as part of Bude’s fundraising activities on Lifeboat Day held each year on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Unfortunately, running around the beaches and promenades of Bude when full of holidaymakers on an often hot bank holiday in August did not attract many entrants. And so, in an effort to increase numbers, it was decided in 2008 to make the run a separate RNLI event, change the date to a Wednesday evening in June, and add a junior run.

As a result entries to the senior race increased dramatically from 66 in 2008 to its current race limit of 450. In fact, for the last three years the event has been sold out months before race day. During that time the junior run experienced similar levels of success. Ten years ago there were 52 juniors taking part and this year the junior run had 384 entries.

The senior run follows a single lap, six-mile route around Bude’s cycleway, canal towpath and Whalesborough estate’s footpaths. The one-mile junior route is also a single lap course safely using the off-road cycleway and canal towpath.

Both races are licenced by England Athletics and held under the UKA Rules of Competition. Prizes are awarded to all age categories in the senior six-mile race and to seven different school years for the junior one-mile race.

A schools trophy is awarded to the school with the highest proportion of entries as a percentage of total pupils. A medal plus a goody bag is awarded to every finisher.

The location for the start/finish and race HQ is conveniently sited at Bude Rugby Club where changing facilities, showers and even a bar is available. The RNLI Bude Lifeboat Crew provides a barbecue all evening.

The event timetable for the evening is 4pm registration opens; 6pm junior start for school Years 3 and under; 6.30pm junior start for school Years 4 and above; 7.15pm senior start; 7.30pm junior prize giving; 8.30pm senior prize giving.

Medical cover around both courses and at the start/finish is kindly provided by RNLI Lifeguards.

The event relies heavily on the goodwill of many RNLI supporters. This year it took 79 of them to marshal the runners around both courses plus another eight on the organising team.

Any business interested in sponsoring the Bude Lifeboat Run and Junior Run is asked to contact Stephen Hutchinson on [email protected] or telephone 01288 352884.