SHEFALI Oza, weather-caster and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today, will be joining the thousands of runners and spectators at this year's Knowle Fun Run on Sunday May 14.
She said: "I'm delighted to be supporting the Knowle Fun Run this year - following in the footsteps of other celebrities including my colleague, Kay Alexander, in hopefully helping to boost the interest in the event.
"With the help of so many runners the Lion's club have raised so much in the past for so many different charities, it's important to keep up that impetus and what better way than through fitness and fun. However, having said that, I'll be sticking to the fun part while leaving the running to the rest of you. See you in May!"
Last year's Fun Run raised over £30,000 for charity with over 1,800 runners taking part in the individual, team and mini runs. This year the run, which enjoys an increasing profile and attracts runners from all over the West Midlands and well beyond, has three more worthy causes:
DebRA - a charity helping children and adults in the UK affected by EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) - a rare and currently incurable genetic skin condition. You may recall the Channel 4 documentary about Jonny 'the boy whose skin fell off'
Crossroads - a leading provider of practical support for carers.
Mind - working with local people with mental health problems to improve their quality of life through supported and enjoyable sporting and gardening activities.
As usual they will retain 20 per cent for local Lions' causes.
"We are delighted that Shefali has accepted our invitation to set the runners on their way and award the trophies and prizes we have lined up this year," says organiser John Heard. "Now all we need is a celebrity to run in the Fun Run itself. There must be lots of fit sports and other personalities who can run 5 miles and may like to lend their names to help raise the profile of the Fun Run even higher. Entries for the run are already mounting up on our new website www.KnowleFunRun.org.uk,wh ere full details of the run can be found. We hope that entrants will help us by registering on line early this year."
Anyone able to help the Lions organise another successful run, marshalling or otherwise, should contact John on 01564 777694.
