THE race is on to get more corporate teams involved in the Shire Destination Basingstoke Half-Marathon.
This week, Destination Basingstoke staff have been visiting various firms in the area to drum up support for the Sunday, October 7 event.
Among those already training hard are staff from headline sponsor Shire Pharmaceuticals.
Last year Shire, based at Hampshire International Business Park, in Chineham, won the Fastest Female Corporate Team prize, and one of its team, Simon Thatcher, finished fourth overall. This year, the company already has a team of more than 40 staff taking part, some of whom are pictured below.
Jessica Mann, vice-president for global communications at Shire, said: “Last year, I watched the half-marathon with many of my colleagues from Shire and saw the elation of all the runners as they crossed the finish line, and this year I am determined to be part of it.”
Phillips Solicitors, whose Town Gate offices are in London Street, Basingstoke, is sponsoring the half-marathon’s exclusive technical T-shirt, which will be free to all runners. The law firm is also fielding a corporate team and has reserved 50 places.
After last year’s success in winning both the Fastest Male Corporate Team and the Fastest Mixed Corporate Team titles, the challenge is on to retain their number one position.
Serial marathon runner and director at Phillips Jonathan Pender said: “Last year’s half-marathon was a triumph for Basingstoke, and our 50 runners in Team Phillips were delighted to run off with the award for Fastest Corporate Team.
“So we can’t resist asking our staff and clients to run with us again and we’ve invited some new runners to join our team.
“We’ll be training hard to support St Michael’s Hospice, and we’ve definitely got our eye on keeping that corporate team trophy!”
Other major Basingstoke employers are also rising to the challenge, with large teams coming from Huawei and Computer 2000.
Andy Dow, marketing director at Computer 2000, based at Chineham Park, said: “The event really seems to have captured staff’s imagination, and we are looking to raise lots of money to support local charities and organisations through the Kestrel Kids Trust.”
Felicity Edwards, race organiser and managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Last year, we had a huge number of local people rising to the challenge of the first Destination Basingstoke Shire Half-Marathon. We’re delighted that so many of Basingstoke’s businesses are getting involved in 2012.
“It’s great to see them using the opportunity to build strong, fit teams and raise lots of money for good causes. In 2011, the race was one of the top-rated races in the UK for its amazing atmosphere thanks to the crowds of spectators at the finish and all along the route.”
The closing date for entries is August 31. To register visit basingstokehalfmarathon. com.