Runners keep on going for Jigsaw

Tuesday, 01 December 2015

High winds didn't deter 250 runners from limbering up on Dunsfold Park for the fourth annual 10k Jigsaw Run in aid of Jigsaw Trust on Sunday 29th November 2015.

Runners took part in a pre-race warm up, led by Rob Dale of Get Fit Boot Camp, before the starting pistol was fired by Jigsaw's patron, Kim Robson, presenter on 96.4 Eagle Radio. Runners then had to complete two laps of Dunsfold Park's perimeter road, passing the resident Boeing 747 and crossing the famous Top Gear start/finish line.

The first person past the line was Ben Short with a time of 36mins 15secs and the fastest woman was Debbie Aitken with a time of 44mins 23secs. In addition to their medals and goody bags, each received a gift pack courtesy of local brewers, Firebird Brewing Co..

Jigsaw's Community and Events Fundraiser, Yvette Copping, thanked everyone for taking part: "Competitors from previous years tell us that they really enjoy taking part in the Jigsaw Run. The venue, here on Dunsfold Park, is an ideal course on closed roads, flat with some interesting landmarks to run past plus, of course, the fun of crossing the Top Gear line! We are grateful to everyone who has taken part today for contributing to Jigsaw Trust's fundraising endeavours and to all the volunteers who have helped to make the event possible – we couldn't have done it without them."

Jim McAllister, Director, Dunsfold Park, comments: "We are proud and delighted to support Jigsaw Trust by donating the use of Dunsfold Park for their charity run. I am full of admiration for what the staff, working together with the parents and pupils, has achieved since Jigsaw moved to Dunsfold Park. It is inspiring to see the school going from strength to strength and their charity run becoming a successful event raising vital funds for the Trust."

Jigsaw operates a specialist day school and is committed to educating children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Based at Dunsfold Park, Jigsaw is one of only around 10 schools in the UK to use Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) as its teaching methodology. It exists to improve the lives of children and families affected by autism through education, training and research.

Money raised from the Jigsaw Run will be used to purchase sports, therapy and IT equipment for pupils at Jigsaw School.

Jigsaw Trust would like to thank Informed Choice, Dunsfold Park, Hilton Cobham, Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Cranleigh Lions Club, Get Fit Boot Camp, Firebird Brewing Co., Café on the Park and Stuart March Photography for their support of this event.