On Saturday, hundreds of Arsenal fans and keen runners braved arctic-like conditions in north London to take part in the Club’s charity fun-run, 'Be a Gunner. Be a Runner', in aid of The Arsenal Foundation.
In conditions more akin to December, there were sub-zero temperatures at Emirates Stadium, but that didn’t put off a huge band of runners, young and old, who came together to take part in the popular annual fundraiser.
After taking part in an energetic warm-up, the children’s race was the first to get underway with Junior Gunners completing either one or two laps of Emirates Stadium. The first boy past the post in the one-lap race was Matthew Agar (aged six), who was closely followed by Amelia Ball (aged six), the first girl past the finishing line. Zeeshan Anjum (aged 14) took the trophy in the two-lap race for those aged seven to 14, while Natasha Cohen (aged nine) was the first girl across the line.
The adults were next to get under starters orders with Ben Ladkin the first male to complete the 6.4km route in 26mins 18secs. In the women’s race, Ruby Dixon retained her crown for the second year in a row, completing the run in just under 33 minutes and beating her time in 2012.
Before the UK had even woken up, many Gooners around the world were taking part in their own independently organised events overseas as 'Be a Gunner. Be a Runner' spread to the international stage. Supporters’ groups and runners from as far afield as Australia, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Singapore joined in to show their support, with many more countries set to complete runs over the course of the weekend.
All funds raised from the event will support The Arsenal Foundation, which aims to transform the lives of young people in the UK and overseas through a range of education and sport initiatives, including those of the Club’s global charity partner, Save the Children.
To find out more, visit www.arsenal.com/thearsenalfoundation or to donate to The Arsenal Foundation, visit www.justgiving.com/thearsenalfoundation.
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