Third World Run 2009 Annual Report

THIRD WORLD RUN

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2009

The 23rd Third World Run was held on Sunday 31 May 2009 at the usual venue, Ormeau Park, and we had another very successful day. The weather was very much in our favour and the Run itself was without serious incident or mishap except for a brief period towards the end when some young men who had been drinking in the park created problems for some of the runners. The police were informed and asked to take action to ensure the safety of the participants. Thankfully, no other runners had any interference from these lager louts.

Altogether 453 people took part – 188 in the 10K and 265 in the 3K – which was down on the previous year when 490 took part – 180 in the 10K and 310 in the 3K. There was a slight rise in the number of 10K runners with 45 fewer people in the 3K.

Unfortunately, the date of our Run clashed with two other major events – the Race for Life was held on the morning and the NI Hospice inaugural Run was held in the afternoon of 31 May. Although the date of our Run had been publicized in March, neither of the other organizations seemed to have been aware of it. We were unsuccessful in having either of the others change their date. Both organizations have been notified of the date for our 2010 as have the organizers of the RunHer Belfast Telegraph event so that there are no clashes this time.

There is no doubt that this clash affected our overall entries especially in the 3K.

For the past number of years on the day of the actual Run, Laurence Frazer, our Vice Chairman, has been working in the Ozone Centre dealing with entries on the day and has never actually seen the start of the Run. This year he was on the ground the whole time helping with the start, the finish and the prize-giving.

A total of £7200 was available for distribution to the four benefiting agencies. This was £400 less than the previous year. Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam Ireland and Trocaire each received £1800. Most of the money raised comes from Entry Fees, Entrants’ Sponsorship and donations, with a small amount from the sale of T-shirts.

This year, we were more successful in securing publicity in advance of the Run thanks to the Belfast Telegraph and the Irish News both of which gave us good coverage – as did the provincial and community newspapers. However, publicity is still a major concern for us.

Despite a large mailing to firms and businesses asking for donations for spot prizes and requests for a meal for two, the response was extremely disappointing. We received only two positive replies re spot prizes – from MovieHouse Cinemas and Tesco Newntownbreda, both of whom have been very supportive in the past. Committee members and friends donated spot prizes but we actually had to purchase a number of items to use as spot prizes for children.

I would suggest we discontinue the practice of awarding spot prizes and, instead, see if we can persuade some firms to donate bulk supplies of drinks, crisps etc.

There was not a single offer of a meal for two from any one of the numerous establishments contacted. We normally offer this as a prize, decided by a draw among all those eligible, for those raising more than £50 in sponsorship. Fortunately, Laurence and Dorothy Frazer came to the rescue and offered vouchers for a meal for two at a local restaurant.

One of our sponsors, Up & Running Belfast, decided to stop sponsoring us in favour of another charity but continued to publicise our Run by displaying our posters and entry forms in their shops. Up & Running have been very generous in offering quality spot prizes in the past for which we are very grateful.

On behalf of the Committee, I should like to thank a number of people who have consistently supported us over the years:
• Our Patrons – Lady Anne McCollum (and family), David Dunseath and John Daly
• The Management and Staff of the Ozone Centre
• Ray Mullan, Collar and Tie Menswear, Lisburn who has provide us with T-shirts every year
• Frazer and Cleaver Black, Independent Financial Services Ltd for continuing sponsorship and undertaking much of the administration of the Run
• Patrick McCarney of Hilltop B & B for continuing sponsorship
• John McGill for providing trophies and prizes
• Derek Mason for supplying and operating the PA system for a nominal fee
• Denis Kelly and Derek Kelly for setting out the course and organizing the marshals
• Our volunteers and marshals
• David O’Hare for his PR work on our behalf

I am most grateful to the members of the Third World Run Committee for their continuing involvement, support, help and encouragement during the past year and most particularly in the weeks before the Run and on the day of the Run itself.

A number of our committee members have left us for work or personal reasons and I thank them for their contribution to the Third World Run. They are:
Louise Cardwell (Concern Worldwide)
Kerri Denmark (Oxfam Ireland)
Paul Kane (Trocaire)
David Burn
Ian Caldwell

Early on in the year Gemma McCourt replaced Paul Kane as Trocaire’s representative. Claire Hanna now represents Concern and Gillian Thompson from Oxfam Ireland’s FR Events is now the committee member for that organization.

Once again my greatest thanks must go to those who actually took part in the Run and most especially those who have do so tirelessly year after year.

Our (voluntary) committee consists of 4 agency representatives who work full-time for their respective agencies and 7 others, some of whom can offer a limited amount of time to the work of the Third World Run charity. We have appealed for more people to join the committee or help out with various tasks during the year or volunteer to help on the day of the Run itself. Some of these people need not necessarily serve on the main committee but could be a member of a sub-committee with responsibility for a particular aspect of our work as described below.

It is my personal opinion that we have tended to be rather ad hoc about some things. We need to tighten up our organizational structure to spread the workload more evenly and to have designated individuals with overall responsibility for directing various aspects of our work. These would include:
• Publicity – media, organizations, schools, youth groups etc
• Distribution of posters and entry forms including emailing previous entrants
• Recruitment, briefing, placement and training of marshals
• Processing entry forms
• An online blog-cum-training –help-forum
• Sponsorship including runners’ sponsorship, spot prizes etc
• Computer-related activities

Obviously, the person responsible for each of these areas would be able to call on other committee members and the agencies for help and support as well as having volunteers serve on a functional sub-committee.

Finally, I must point out that the full costs of administering the annual Third World Run are not truly reflected in the annual Financial Report. A number of costs are borne either by individual committee members or by the 4 agencies. These include, or have included in the past, the following:
• Annual insurance of approximately £250
• Postage – letters to firms and companies asking for prizes; mailings to previous entrants, mailings to postal entries ( welcoming letter, details of work by 4 agencies sponsorship form, Run number, pins etc); posting sponsorship certificates; various letter.
• Phone calls
• Half -page advertisement in the Belfast Marathon programme about £300
• Sending out posters and entry forms to leisure centres etc outside Belfast and to various organizations within the Belfast city boundary
• Purchase of spot and other prizes to make up shortfall – including the Freetrade Hamper.
• Sundry items including print work.

I would like to see a situation whereby all, or at least most, of these costs would be met by the Third World Run charity itself through increased donations and funding from other bodies. I have applied, or am in the process of applying, to various firms and bodies for such sponsorship, funding and grants.

John Watson, Chairman, 20 January 2010