THOSE WANTING enter this year’s Wythall and Hollywood Fun Run with the closing date at midnight on Wednesday, June 18, fast approaching.
This week the organisers of the popular event released the route(s) which runners will be undertaking on the day (below).
This year, to ensure everyone who wants to enter can, the organisers have joined forces to help runners who are blind or visually impaired.
Wythall Community Association, Events of the North and Worcestershire County Council have been working with local charity Sensory Matters Worcestershire (formally Sight Concern Worcestershire) to make the run as accessible to those with sight loss and vision impairment.
The event, in Wythall Park on Sunday, June 22, will include a number of enhancements, including guide runners, tailored support throughout the route, dedicated spaces within the event village and a programme of inclusive sports taster sessions.
Sensory Matters Worcestershire will host an accessible support zone for visually impaired attendees, offering a secure place to leave personal items and talk to and engage with volunteers.
It will features a range of hands-on displays and informational materials, giving visitors the opportunity to speak with the team and explore assistive tools. These include canes used by those with sight loss and sim specs which are specially designed glasses that simulate various visual impairments.
This will raise awareness of the everyday challenges faced by people living with sight loss. Also available to try are liquid level indicators that enable people living with a visual impairment to safely pour drinks.
Millie Hayter, Sensory Matters Worcestershire’s physical activities connector, said the charity was thrilled to be helping make the fun run more inclusive this year.
“By creating spaces and opportunities for blind and visually impaired participants, we’re not only enabling more people to take part – we’re also raising awareness of the daily challenges many face.
“It’s a big step towards a more inclusive community event.”
Worcestershire’s Director of Public Health, Dr Lisa McNally, said: “It is extremely important to us our event puts accessibility first.
“We want everyone to be able to take part in Wythall and Hollywood Fun Run and we are delighted for the support from Sensory Matters Worcestershire whose knowledge and expertise have enabled us to make this race truly accessible to all.”
Other activities
On the day, there will be three races – a 5k, 10k and family relay, along with an event village boasting food, drinks and entertainment.
There will also be the chance to try a new sport, including tennis, bowls and archery.
Attendees will also have the chance to try adapted versions of tennis and cricket, designed for people with sight loss but adapted for those without sight, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the sport.
For more on Sensory Matters Worcestershire, call 01905 723245 or pop along to visit the charity at The Bradbury Centre, 2 Sansome Walk, Worcester.
To enter the race, visit: wythallhollywoodfunrun.org.uk by midnight on Wednesday, June 18.
