New 10K and superhero fun run will mark 10 years since the Buncefield explosion and 30 years of hospice at home care

Rennie Bear launches new fundraising 10K run for Hemel Hempstead.

The event - hosted by Rennie Grove Hospice Care - will also celebrate 30 years of the charity providing care to poorly people in their own homes.

It will raise funds for the good cause, which is looking after more and more people as the population ages.

The Hemel Hempstead 10K on Sunday, July 12 will also run alongside a more family friendly and leisurely 1.5K superhero fancy dress fun run.

Corporate partnership manager at Rennie Grove Colin Ivey said: “Most other local towns have a big running event like the half marathons in St Albans and Berkhamsted and the Herts 10K in Harpenden, but there is nothing on this scale in Hemel.

“As 2015 is the tenth anniversary of the Buncefield disaster and also sees Rennie Grove reach the milestone of providing 30 years of care for local people with life-limiting illness, it seems particularly appropriate to launch the event this year.

“There has been a massive amount of regeneration in the town since Buncefield and an event like this will help bring the town together to celebrate this, as well as raising funds to support the increasing number of people who need our care.”

Harpenden’s Herts 10K, which is organised by Rennie Grove and attracts around 3,000 runners, raises in the region of £150,000 and it is hoped that the Hemel Hempstead event will grow to be a similar success.

As well as marking 30 years of the hospice, the Hemel 10k also marks a decade since the Buncefield disaster

The 10K will follow a picturesque multi-terrain route and with all the runners wearing a timing chip, it will offer something for serious runners as well as those that want to try the distance for the first time.

An alternative is the 1.5K fancy dress fun run for which families are being encouraged to turn out in bright and colourful superhero costumes.

Both runs will start from the town’s Astley Cooper School in St Agnells Lane, with the 10k starting at 10.30am and the fun run at 10am.

Entry costs £20 for the longer distance and £5 for the fun run and participants are asked to raise sponsorship too.

Events manager Ruth Proudfoot said: “We hope the people of Hemel will really get behind this event.”

To register visit www.renniegrove.org/Hemel10K.