20/06/2024
**IMPORTANT UPDATE**
It is with much regret and sadness that we have been forced to cancel our event due to be held on 28th July.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD), who manage 70% of the course’s land, have withdrawn their consent for us to use it. The MoD’s permit is always subject to military priority and, for the first time in the event’s history (2016), they have retracted it just weeks before our event is due to take place. This is because there is a shortage of resources to maintain their training estates, not just in Hopwas Woods, but across a number of sites, and use of it is therefore deemed as unsafe. All 3rd party activities have been cancelled until at least the end of August and they cannot advise at this stage, when that decision will be reviewed.
Unfortunately, given the circumstances and short notice, finding an alternative route is not feasible, leaving us no choice but to cancel.
This does come at a cost to the charity, as we have printed marketing material, and incurred fees from the booking site, which are charged for each sign up. We are actively seeking refunds for other permits where possible.
Alliance with the Gate Gallop
We have approached another local event, the Gate Gallop, an off-road charity 10k/4.4k event organised by The Peel Road Runners in Tamworth, which is taking place on the same day, to discuss the possibility of forming an alliance with them to recoup some of our costs. Their event raises money for St Giles Hospice and is based at Anker Valley Sports Complex in Tamworth, where there will be music and community stalls. It aligns nicely with our offering, and they have kindly agreed to share some of their proceeds with our charity, in exchange for our support on the day.
We have sent a communication out to all of our entrants, so if you have signed up and not yet received it, please check your inbox and junk folder for further information, which includes an option to transfer across to the Gate Gallop, to help maximise the fundraising for two fantastic charities.
If you were intending to sign up for the Abbott Trail, please consider taking part in the Gate Gallop. Further details and their booking page can be found here:
https://thegategallop.wordpress.com/
We are in the process of reaching out to our sponsors and volunteers to discuss options, so please bear with us if you are reading this and not yet heard from us.
A big thank you to the Gate Gallop/The Peel Road Runners for their support. Here’s to a successful partnership.
Simon’s Heroes.
