HUNDREDS of Arsenal fans will be gunning for charity on Saturday in a fun-run around the Emirates stadium.
Organisers of the Be a Gunner, Be a Runner event hope to raise more than £40,000, the figure raised at last year’s inaugural event, for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
More than 300 runners are expected to complete the ten-lap race around the Premier League club’s home in a bid to raise the cash.
Specialist training
Participants on the 6.4 km course are being asked to raise at least £100 in sponsorship for the specialist children’s hospital.
Each entrant will receive a limited edition running t-shirt, as well as specialist training, nutrition and equipment advice from start to finish.
Fun runners who raise more than £500 for the charity will take home the plaudit of being a ‘Top Gunner’, and will be handed a personally signed certificate from an Arsenal first team player.
Childrens’ race
There will be a shorter run for children aged 15 or under taking place earlier in the morning, when club mascot Gunnersaurus will be on hand to entertain young fans.
Arsenal defender Gael Clichy said: “I hope lots of supporters sign up for what looks to be a really fun day, and certainly a great fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“We’re at the half-way mark of our fundraising target and the more people who sign up for the race the better chance we’ll have of reaching our target and raising more much-needed cash for charity.”
Charity
A club spokesperson said: “So far 240 people have signed up and the numbers are growing every day. We hope to have over 300 runners on the day.
“Last year’s race was a fantastic success and we managed to raise more than £40,000 for charity. With even more runners this year, we hope to beat that figure.
“Some people are raising thousands and thousands. Anyone who raises more than £500 will receive a certificate signed by a player to congratulate them for being a top gunner.”
Be a Gooner Be a Giver
The fund-raising event is part of Arsenal’s season-long Be a Gooner Be a Giver campaign to raise £500,000 to fund a new Arsenal Lung Function Unit. The unit is designed to help children who have difficulty breathing or sleeping.
The fun run day starts at 10am on Saturday 12 March with the children’s race starting at 10:45am before the main run kicks off at 11:30am.
Image Credit – Arsenal press office
