Everybody is welcome to join in the Right to Play 5k run

Right To Play UK, the international Sport for Development and Peace charity, has launched a 5K fundraising run, supported by athlete ambassador Dan Norton, the current England Rugby Sevens player of the year.

With the run taking place in Battersea Park on the evening of Friday, May 16, Norton and Right To Play are encouraging not only local club athletes, but also asking city workers to ditch their Friday night pub drinks for a week and join together with colleagues to complete the run for charity.

Fun runners aiming for a sprint finish should look no further for inspiration than Right To Play Ambassador Norton, whose personal best time over 20 metres is faster than 100m world record holder and six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt.

Norton will be in Battersea Park to cheer on Right To Play’s fundraisers and take part in the run himself too.

He commented: “Running is a big part of my rugby game, so I do a lot of practice in training, but I’ve never had hundreds of people running along with me before, so this will be a first!”

He continued: “After a hard week’s work it’s tempting to spend Friday evening relaxing with a few drinks, but on the May 16 I’m encouraging everyone in London to change their plans for one day and head down to Battersea to run the Right To Play 5K with me. It’s sure to be a really fun evening and we’ll be raising money for a great charity that I care very much about.”

Last year’s event successfully raised £60,000, and Right To Play hopes to exceed that total in 2014 as businesses, families and individual runners are all invited to join together and take part, whatever their level of ability – and however fast their 20m record is!

Meryl Davies, National Director of Right To Play UK, commented: “The run doesn’t even need to stop at 5K; we’re inviting Londoners to jog straight over from their homes, schools and workplaces to the park before the official start, to raise even more for this exciting charity.”

She continued: “We hope that workers in London will take this opportunity to put their Friday night pub plans on hold to club together, head over to beautiful Battersea Park and spend a really enjoyable evening running with Dan Norton and their fellow fundraisers.”

Marijana Kolak, Chief of Staff at Bain Capital, a sponsor of the 2013Right To Play 5K, said: “Right To Play’s 5K brought our employees together in a unique and refreshing way. All of our staff members were welcomed to take part in the event, not just our keen runners. We had employees come together with their friends and family, which we don’t see very often, and we will definitely be out in force at the event again this year!”

This year’s Right To Play 5K – the third annual edition – will also feature a variety of football-themed activities with the support of global partner Chelsea FC, including coaching sessions with the Chelsea FC Foundation.

Every week, funds raised by Right To Play help one million children across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and North America. The charity’sinternational work is carried out with the enduring support of professional and Olympic athletes, corporate partners, and many thousands of individuals.

Standard entry costs £30, while children under-15 can enter for just £15. To sign up, visit righttoplay.com/5krun.

? For more information on Right To Play, please visit righttoplay.org.uk.