Colour Blast Dash 2014

Rams fans urged to play their part in the 2014 Colour Blast Dash.

Derby County Football Club and their chosen charity - Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance - has teamed up with the Laura Centre for their 2014 Colour Blast Dash.

The Laura Centre, which relies on voluntary donations to continue to care, launched its flagship fundraising colour dash in 2013 to a blaze of community support.

The 5k and 2.5k dash around Victoria Park, which was to be the first event of its kind for the City and the charity, was well attended and brought with it some amazing feedback.

This year’s event will take place in Darley Park on Sunday 11th May 2014.

The COPE charity has been carrying out this vital work for 25 years, ever since being set up by Gail and Harry Moore in 1988 following the death of their daughter Laura to leukaemia.

This work led directly to the creation of the COPE children’s oncology unit (ward 27) at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, as well as the creation and funding of two children’s community COPE Macmillan paediatric nurses and contributing to haematological research.

The work initiated by COPE contributed to a significant shift in awareness of families’ needs and most of these services are now funded by the NHS. Gail and Harry went on to start a separate charity that created Rainbows children’s hospice.

They opened The Laura Centre in October 1991 to provide therapeutic support to anyone bereaved of a child or young person. In 1994 their service was extended to include support for children bereaved of a parent or carer. 75% of the people referred will have experienced death of a sudden, traumatic and unexpected nature.

In the first year it opened The Laura Centre saw 80 people and that number has grown steadily ever since, with the charity now supporting more than 500 people every year. The charity has now expanded to include two counsellors being based at the City Hospital.

The charity is looking to raise funds of £100,000 to extend their counselling services to include children and move in to their own premises providing a home environment for families to heal at their own pace.

Gail Moore, co-founder of COPE-The Laura Centre, said: “2014 sees the Laura Centre partnering up with Derby County with the event benefiting both charities involved.

“It brings a new focus for the event and The Laura Centre is looking forward to producing a bigger and brighter experience for all those who take part in the Colour Blast Dash and so the message is, to everyone out there, please sign up, take part, have fun and make a difference and in return the charity will look to colour you happy as you enter the Colour Blast Zones!”

Sam Rush, President & Chief Executive of Derby County, said: “Derby County is pleased to be supporting this year’s Colour Blast Dash and we would encourage our supporters to sign up and take part. It’s a great cause and also an opportunity for people to have fun as well as getting some exercise at the same time.”

Sophie Stevens from the DLRAA said: “We have had a great year as the charity partner of Derby County and this event is another fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and vital funds.

“We receive no government funding and rely entirely on charitable donations to raise the £1.7m needed every year to keep flying and saving lives.”

Now you can help too by signing up for the run. Whether you want to join the Colour Dash Rascals 2.5k event for 4+ year olds, or the Colour Blast Runners for14+ year olds - it couldn’t be easier.

To find out more, simply log on to www.colourblastdash.org.