Food festival fuels runners to raise cash for CHICKS
The Delicious Drake’s Trail food festival on the run, which took place on Sunday 2nd October, was once again a run-away success. Over 250 enthusiastic participants donned their most elaborate and creative sporting heroes inspired fancy dress costumes to help raise over £3,000 for the charity, CHICKS.
Starting at Tavistock Sports Centre, Delicious Drake’s Trail runners were fuelled by some pre-race treats courtesy of Riverford Home Delivery, Midfields Granola, Trewithen Dairy and Plymouth Tea. The atmosphere was one of anticipation, excitement and, of course, some mild trepidation as the runners prepared for their 11.5 mile run around the stunning west Devon countryside.
At 9.30am the first group of 50 runners set off on their adventure, taking them to eleven food and drink pit-stops before crossing the finishing line at The Moorland Garden Hotel, where all participants were welcomed with goodie bags from Delicious Trails’ sponsors, Atkins-Ferrie Wealth Management and an honorary cookie medal made by Sweet Devotion. If they weren’t full after their gourmand odyssey, they could sample the wide range of food and drink on offer at the Moorland Garden Hotel Food Festival, which was also open to the public.
The prize for Best Fancy Dress went to Mike Lucas and his nautical ship mates. With the prize for Spirit of the Trail – for the runner/s whose deeds best embody the spirit of the trail – given to the Sidmouth running club team, who entertained runners with their equestrian performances at every stop.
Several participants had completed the trail before, or had been involved in one of the other Delicious Trails hosted around the South West. Helen Grimso, an A&E Doctor at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, dressed in an eye-catching Michael Phelps outfit, was taking part for the second year running. “I loved the event so much last year that I just had to do it again. It’s a wonderful and creative way to raise money for charity, to sample amazing local produce and to see so much of the countryside that we either take for granted or don’t get chance to see often enough.”
Jamie Coakley, regional fundraiser for CHICKS, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who took part in this wonderful event! By taking part, runners helped to raise vital funds for CHICKS. We receive no government funding so rely on events like these to help provide our respite breaks for disadvantaged children in the UK.”
For all those looking forward to participating in the next Delicious Trail event, the Delicious Dart Trail will be back in March 2017. Find our more atwww.delicioustrails.co.uk. For more information on CHICKS visit www.chicks.org.uk.