Your first Fun Run: a set-up guide  

A RUN FOR HEALTH ( Children’s fun run): It could send a powerful message to kids, their parents, and the community, as well as a great way to raise funds. Here’s all you need:

1. Short distance courses for kids and have more than one. Design an age graded kid friendly distances for fun runs. Start with the youngest running 100m or less. Keep the finish line at the same place and vary the start line. Mark the kids' courses very well. Use tape or cones, but make sure that it is very clear where they are running. If you can, have the short fun runs on a field, and the mile run on a wooded trail.

2. A safe off-road trail, where participants can't get lost and where children can run with or without their parents and go around as many times as they want.

3. There should be no pressure to be the winner

4. Make sure that medals or ribbons are provided for all children who participate.

5. Encourage the local educators to attend the event as they are great running role models for the kids.

6. Be prepared for rain. Host the event at a place with a shelter for the non-runners and hold your award ceremony under the shelter.

7. What you will encourage on the day: a sense of family and community, The excited anticipation of returning to this run again, someday. The feeling of pride really earning a medal brings you. Turning running into play. Encouraging children to run their own way. Encouraging young participants to dream of wearing their medal to school on Monday.

8. Distribute a printable kids tailored map prior to the event that they can colour in. Perhaps there could be things that kids could look out for as they run the trail, you could also have a mascot of some sort to run along the course with the kids

9. Get permission from town officials to use a local park or school grounds.

10. Work with the police department on setting up a route

Distance by Age Events:

Age 12 (2 Mile)
Age 11 (2 Mile)
Age 10 (1 Mile)
Age 9 (1 Mile)
Age 8 (1 Mile)
Age 7 (1 Mile)
Age 6 (1/2 Mile)
Age 5 (1/2 Mile)
Age 4 (1/2 Mile)
Age 3 Toddler Trot
Age 2 & under Diaper Dash  

Fundraising Plan:

You could charge per event:

      In Advance- £9.00 Individual / or £20 for a family to take part

      Day of event- £11.00 Individual/ or £25 for a family

For an example family fun run case study: check out www.hotchocolaterun.com which is annual family running event in Northampton, MA...here are the results for the last 4-5 years!

2004: (their first year) 450 participants raising $6000 (US)
2005: 1000 participants raising $12,000
2006: 1700 participants raising $30,000
2007: 2200 participants raising $45,000

CR UK could promote community events like this around the country and over a 4 year period they should be able to double their results each year!