Preparing for local Hilly Helmet Challenge

There are just two weeks to go until The Hilly Helmet Challenge, a running event organised by Dilton Marsh resident, Robin-Mark Schols. 

He had to wear a helmet for a year in 2015 – 2016 due to a brain infection and subsequent operation to remove part of his skull. 

The event, in which runners have to wear a helmet of their choice, is taking place at Leighton Recreation Centre in Westbury on Wednesday 14th August at 7pm and less than 40 spaces remain for the popular event. Robin-Mark is hoping the fundraising will break through the £10,000 barrier this year, as a total raised by the event over the last three years. It has sold out the previous two years and is looking likely to do so again this year. 

“I’m really thrilled with how popular the event has been,” said Robin-Mark.  “Support has been great from not only runners, but local businesses who have got behind the event and ensure it is able to maximise the money it can raise for the charity. I was even able to get local supermarket, Waitrose, to help. They made us one of their charities that customers could donate their shopping tokens to for a month, which brought £450 into the fund total.”

The event is now in its third year and was created based on his own experience to raise funds and awareness for the charity Brain Tumour Support. Brain Tumour Support provide advice and specialist support for all affected by a brain tumour diagnosis for as long as it is needed.

This year, Robin will be joined by friend Darren Blenkinsop from Plymouth who he met in Frenchay hospital in 2009, where they both had complicated operations to have tumours removed. Though they’d never met before, they and their wives became good friends and make the trip to visit each other regularly. 

Darren, in his early 40s, took up running earlier this year after taking part in a ‘couch to 5k’ course before joining his local club Tamar Trotters. He explained, “Running was really hard to start with, but I was inspired by what Robin has achieved in his running and felt like I wanted to give it a go too. I really enjoy running now and when I heard about the event Robin had created, I really wanted to take on the challenge.” Darren’s plant hire company is also one of the event partners, along with other local businesses and generous individuals. 

There will be prizes for the male and female winners as well as a special prize for the best helmet, and in addition, there have been lots of prizes donated, which will be randomly drawn from entrants’ race numbers, so anybody could be a winner.

Entries are open now at www.entrycentral.com/thehillyhelmetchallenge or please visit www.orange helmetevents.org.uk for more information.