A LOCAL charity has been presented with the grand total of £2,731, the bulk of which was raised from entry fees by runners taking part in this year’s Crediton Crunch 10k race.

The Crediton Crunch was held on Sunday, May 14, after a break of several years.

It was organised by Lee Cusiak of South West Road Runners and Martyn Slyfield of Crediton Running Network with the support of Ernest Jackson and Co Ltd of Crediton, the healthcare company which produces medicated confectionary and other products.

The company has a 200-year history in Crediton and currently employs more than 150 people across two sites in the town.

Lee Cusiak, from South West Road Runners, left, presents Martyn Slyfield, with the cheque for £250 for the 1st Crediton Scout Group. AQ 1540
Lee Cusiak, from South West Road Runners, left, presents Martyn Slyfield, with the cheque for £250 for the 1st Crediton Scout Group. AQ 1540 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

It is a Mondelēz International company and kindly sponsored the Crediton Crunch, as it did for some years until the recent years when none took place.

This year it cash-matched the charity donation with £200 and on the day of the race, donated goody bags of items for every runner, plus all of the trophies.

The cheque was presented by Lee, Martyn and Becky Warren, Ernest Jackson Commercial Finance Manager, to Ellie Williams, the charity’s Corporate Fundraising Manager.

Ellie expressed her thanks to all those involved in raising the funds which, she explained, would be used for the Hospiscare at Home Scheme, which would provide more than 28 days worth of visits to provide care at home for people in the Crediton and Exeter areas.

Becky said that Ernest Jackson’s charity of the year, Hospiscare, was chosen by vote by the staff because many had been personally touched by the help provided by the charity.

In addition to the cheque for £2,731, Lee was able to present a cheque for £250 to Martyn for the 1st Crediton Scout Group.

The Scout Group ran the water stations and barbecue and provided some volunteers for the Crediton Crunch.

A total of 177 people completed this year’s Crediton Crunch, which started and ended at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

It was a multi-terrain run, approximately 10k long, which was 90 per cent off road using general footpaths, mowed grassland, private parkland, farmland and quiet country roads.

The race leader for the whole of the race was the first to return.  He was Michal Lesniak of South Molton Strugglers MS with a fine run of 39 minutes and two seconds.

Hannah Richards of Exeter University Triathlon Club was the first female home at 45 minutes, 40 seconds.