Part of the fun of any event is getting your race bib right? Sadly being a virtual event, we didn’t order bibs this year but we’ve had a think and decided to offer you a blank to download, print and wear for when you do your Hilly Helmet effort. You’ll have to add your own number, any number you like. Maybe you’ve always wanted to be bib number 1, or just plain have a favourite or lucky number you’ve always wanted to wear. Please click the icon below to download and print off your event bib.
Why We’re Doing This
Meet Kim Wainwright.
Kim is 8 weeks post op from the removal of her meningioma and bone flap and will now wear this helmet until such times as they can replace the plate once everything is ready to do so. She had to go back in after complications and have the plate removed and now finds herself with the funky headgear until the time is right to fit a new plate.
Kim learned about Hilly Helmet from a friend of our event and immediately signed up to do it herself to ‘give me something to aim for’ being her actual words on the matter. We’re thrilled at the prospect of her taking part in an event specifically created to help and highlight the situation she finds herself in and will be following her journey to her participation with great interest.
Kim is no stranger to running and amongst her many events has completed the London marathon and a triathlon, with an impressive haul of medals to prove it pictured above. She’s certainly looking forward to Hilly Helmet and hoping to take part in a half marathon in October and we wish her well in both her recovery and preparations for the events.
Annikas’ Challenge
Hi everyone. It’s our pleasure to introduce Helmeteer Annika.
A senior NCO in the Royal Air Force, Annika is currently serving on detachment in the Middle East and despite the intense heat is determined to take part again this year for her third run for us.
She’ll only be allowed to run if the temperature is below 27 degrees and there are some administrative hoops to go through and some permissions and approvals to get before she can take part but she is determined to do all this so she can help us raise more money for Brain Tumour Support. Here’s why her taking part is so important in her own words:
“I’m Annika and I’m taking part in the Virtual Hilly Helmet event again because I’ve seen the cruelty and devastation that a brain tumour can have on an individual and their family. A close family friend had a brain tumour. I remember experiencing the feeling of helplessness as it slowly stripped this lively, go getting man into something we didn’t recognise. His tumour was inoperable and it was just heart breaking to watch the pain of his family and friends as his health deteriorated.
She continued, “Support charities are so important during this time, helping to support the families, friends and work colleagues in their time of desperate need with counselling and advice both in person via support groups and on the phone. They really helped us and I know they can help others.
When I got to know Robin and he told me his brain tumour story and about The Hilly Helmet Challenge, the event he created to raise funds for Brain Tumour Support, I jumped at the chance to take part. I’m glad I did, I still remember my very first time running in my ice hockey helmet and was amazed and the fantastic inclusive atmosphere. People all dressed up, having a laugh and supporting each other regardless of age or ability, I absolutely loved it.”
I feel privileged to be able to take part despite currently being deployed in the Middle East and especially during these strange times that COVID-19 have brought us.”
Brain Tumour Supports’ mission is to help anyone affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. To be able to do this and help families like ours, they need funding and like many charities currently receive NO government funding at all.
This event is a great way to help while also having fun and spreading awareness, so if you fancy the challenge why not give it a go yourself this year? You can walk or run, you just need to be brave enough to wear a helmet while you do it and send in a picture after, maybe even get a friend to join you for moral support too.”
We’re so pleased to have Annikas’ support and will update you on her run and will report on it as soon as copy and pictures are approved for publicity.
Friends and colleagues are supporting Annika via the just giving page set up for those wishing to donate to the charity via the event. Maybe you have a friend taking part you’d like to show your support for walking or running while wearing a helmet?
You can donate via our page www.justgiving.com/hillyhelmet4 and when donating give them a name check or a good luck message.
Latest News
With many mass participation running events being cancelled this year, converting Hilly Helmet to a virtual event was a tough decision but the only choice if we were going to be able to try to continue to back Brain Tumour Support again in 2020. Those already entered have had their entries converted to the virtual event with some stating they were happy for us to just donate their entry fee to the charity this year.
With no actual event to marshal this year we’ve been able to open virtual entries up to include junior runners for the first time, as well as offering specially priced family entries.
We’re pleased to report numbers are doing well with almost 90 signed up and it would be great to push this number as high as we can again this year. Please remember as it is a virtual event this year you can take part in your own neighbourhood at a time that suits you, and don’t forget your helmet! (and your camera) We’ve four best helmet prizes up for grabs for the adult male and female and the juniors too, so give it your best shot.
As usual, we’re indebted to our event partners, all of whom provided funds towards this years’ event. We’ve been in discussion with them all and received confirmation they all plan to back us once again next year while also picking up the tab for this year.
They are:
Stark Ecology
The West Wilts Magazine
Mike Sargeant Stone Wall Services
Remember, everyone taking part this year will get a special pottery memento which will be a little different to previous years. In addition, the first 200 sign ups will also get a drinks bottle provided by Wessex Water. Mementos and bottles will be distributed once restrictions on social distancing are reduced. With mementos ordered normally arriving in August we should start delivering them around that time. Please remember to send us photos of you taking part in your helmets so we can share them. We’ve already had them start coming in and as expected there are some great efforts among them.
All runs/walks are to be completed by Wednesday August 12th, the date we originally scheduled for the run this year. Pictures and proof of participation can be emailed to robin@orangehelmetevents.org.uk