25 Runners, 1 mini runner, 384.5 miles covered almost 400,000 steps and over £7.5k raised - those were the stats for this year’s Wilmslow Running festival, where Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank was the official charity partner.

Supporters, volunteers and trustees of the charity turned out in force, on Sunday 23rd March to help run hygiene poverty into the ground. 

Trustee and half-Marathon conqueror Ben Lambert said “This was my sixth Wilmslow run and I always see it as a great event that is really well organised. I  enjoyed my run and it was a boost to my training for the London Marathon.”

Ben is running the London Marathon in April, again with all money raised going to Bare Necessities. When asked why he supports BN, Ben said, “I was introduced to Bare Necessities by a friend and since being part of it, I have become aware of how much hygiene poverty can affect people. I see how much amazing work BN do, what a key place they have in society and the impact they are having. As a small charity BN has to work very hard for funding and I want to help raise funds and extend the conversation around hygiene poverty” 

As well as being charity partner BN also “ran” a guess the minis competition for Fun Runners and attendees, with a prize donated by Running Bear. The winner was the closest to guessing the correct quantity. These minis which include shampoo, shower gels, face & hand wash, creams and toothpaste are an essential part of our 5-days-of-dignity packs. They are distributed to homeless and supported living charities to provide much needed toiletries in a convenient format to those with very little.

Thank you goes to Redrow for sponsoring us and providing T-shirts, Lexi Holt for her warm up session, Suburban Green for the bacon butties, Run Creative for their design and Running Bear for being generally fab. Bare Necessities are incredibly grateful for all the support in raising much needed funds for our Wilmslow based charity. We hope to continue growing our friendly and supportive community and are still accepting donations.

You can help by:

·       Sponsoring Ben in his London marathon challenge
https://www.justgiving.com/page/ben-lambert-?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

·      Donating money to Bare Necessities Toiletry bank please log on to
www.justgiving.com/campaign/bnwilmslowrunningfestival

·      Put a toiletry in our donation boxes, we need all full-size, everyday toiletries, feminine hygiene products, dental and baby products as well as hotel and beauty miniatures. The only proviso is that they must be unopened and unused. Locations found on website.

www.bntoiletrybank.org

Or contact enquiries@bntoiletrybank.org.

Because no-one should have to choose between eating and keeping clean.