Age is no limit!

From a toddler to a pair of 89-year-olds… Grimsby charity Friendship at Home is proving that age is no limit when it comes to having fun and being healthy.

The befriending service, which aims to combat loneliness and isolation in North East Lincolnshire, has stepped up to the challenge of this year’s St Hugh’s Family Fun Run by enrolling 18 adults and children to participate.

They have all taken advantage of the first come, first served offer of 250 free places in the fun run, taking place on Sunday, June 5 as part of the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k, organised by Tape2Tape.

Tina and Keith Mitchell, from Grimsby, can’t wait to compete. The couple have been attending Friendship At Home groups since late last year, following 74-year-old Keith’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

“We are looking forward to taking part in the fun run,” said Tina. “We love being a part of Friendship At Home. I wish we’d found it sooner – it is a real support, and Keith loves attending.”

Ruby Jackson and June Dadd, both 89 and also from Grimsby, have become firm friends since June joined the charity following the coronavirus lockdowns. Ruby said: “It will be nice to be out and about in the fresh air and enjoying being with other people.” “I just hope we are allowed to walk it!” June added.

St Hugh’s Hospital is once again the proud host of the family fun run and is delighted to be a sponsor of the overall Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k. The hospital is also a long-term supporter of Friendship At Home through the St Hugh’s Project. It began in April 2017 and funds two dementia specialists, social clubs for members, and more. St Hugh’s also provides rides on a specially-adapted triobike to get members out and about within their communities.

Gary Allington, facilities manager and community officer at St Hugh’s, said: “Part of our ethos is about encouraging people of all ages to get active and see the benefits that has to health. The fun run gives people the chance to participate together, as a group. The route isn’t as long as the Great Grimsby 10K, you complete it at your own pace and in your own time, at whatever speed you feel comfortable with.”

Neil Pattison, from Tape2Tape, added: “It will be lovely to see so many people from Friendship At Home taking part. We have a well-established relationship with St Hugh’s Hospital, which very kindly supports the family fun run. Through this, we are able to offer free entry into the fun run for the first 250 to sign up. Every finisher will receive a lovely medal, drink, and sweets. Once the free entries have gone, it will be just £2.50 to enter.”

Sign up to the St Hugh’s Hospital Family Fun Run at: https://tape2tape.co.uk/events/st-hughs-hospital-great-grimsby-family-fun-run-2022/

Don’t forget, there’s still time to sign up to the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k.

People can sign up at www.greatgrimsby10k.com for £22 or £20 for affiliated running club members. Entry includes a t-shirt and medal.

Hundreds of volunteering opportunities are also created for local people, making the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10K much more than a race. Volunteers are critical for this event, so if you want to join the race crew, email volunteers@tape2tape.co.uk or sign up at www.tape2tape.co.uk/volunteer.

Along with headline sponsor Ørsted, this year’s 10k event will be sponsored by North East Lincolnshire Council, Young’s, TIRU – Paprec Energies, EQUANS, NAViGO, JemBuild, Lincolnshire Co-op, myenergi , Freshney Place and St Hugh’s Hospital.

The seven chosen local charities for 2022’s event are: OnSide Youth Zone, Harbour Place, A Platform To Talk, The Gardiner Hill Project (part of NAViGO), Mind, Doorstep and RNLI.

Read more about what Mandy and Clare do for Friendship At Home, with our help, here and about the triobike rides here. If you think Friendship At Home can help you or a loved one, visit www.friendshipathome.org.uk