Thousands complete Bidwells Cambridge 10k and are set to raise £120,000

17 October 2024

On Sunday 6 October, 2,600 people completed our historic Bidwells Cambridge 10k and are on track to raise £120,000 to support people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.

he event attracted elite runners competing for a personal best as well groups of friends, corporate teams, people taking part in fancy dress, and those with a personal reason for getting involved, taking part to raise funds and increase awareness.

The Town & Gown 10k event series started in Oxford in 1982, inspired by a local boy Daniel Cleaver who had muscular dystrophy. His father and local runners set up the event as a fun run to raise funds for muscular dystrophy and still to this day all profits go to Muscular Dystrophy UK. Now with a sister event in Cambridge, our Town & Gown 10k series attracts thousands of runners each year.

There was a junior 3k race in addition to the main 10k and both were officially started by Emma Peirce, a professional gardener who lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). A few years after she was diagnosed in 2007, Emma ran the Cambridge 10k with a group of friends and said that it was a ‘significant personal achievement’ and a big step in accepting her diagnosis.

The first 10k runner across the finish line was John Millar who ran the course with a chip time of 30:11. The fastest female was Georgina Schwiening with a chip time of 32:49. In the Junior 3k, the fastest runner was Rory King of Newmarket Joggers with a time of 11:02.

But for some, it wasn’t about getting the fastest time. Chris Hooper, who completed the Cambridge 10k in 1:01, was taking part in memory of his wife. Chris said: “My wife Donna lived with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which is a muscle wasting condition. After she died in 2008, I took up running.

“Taking part in the Cambridge 10k every year is important to me as I saw the difference the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK made to Donna, and I want to help others receive the same support.”

David Slater, 37, lives with cerebral palsy and took part in his manual wheelchair in memory of three friends who lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He completed the course in 1:40. “My condition makes me like a wobbly jelly, so it was definitely a challenge,” said David. “But I hope that by pushing myself like this, I will inspire others. Yes, there are things I find difficult, but I’m luckier than some others and I’m still here. I wanted to do something positive in memory of my friends and to help raise money and awareness of muscular dystrophy. I believe it’s important not to take anything for granted.”

Jessie Keighley, Events Project Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the Bidwells Cambridge 10k as well as all those who came along to support. Also, to Emma Peirce for being our official race starter this year.

“This is a true community event, and we’re delighted that it continues to go from strength to strength. The money raised will make a huge difference, helping us to continue funding groundbreaking research and supporting people living with muscular wasting and weakening conditions.

“We’d like to say a special thank you to our event partner, Bidwells, for helping us to make the event a success as well as one that is carbon neutral. Some sponsorship money is still coming in, but the event looks set to raise £120,000, which is incredible. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Cambridge again next year!”

Alistair Blackmore, Head of Sustainability at Bidwells said: “It was an amazing event. We got to see the historic sights of Cambridge city centre as well as contributing to a charity that we know works hard to make a difference to people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.

“Our partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK goes beyond a traditional sponsorship; it’s an opportunity for us to actively support the incredible work of the charity and to contribute to a legacy that has a huge impact.”