News 
Road Test for Charity Runners
19 August 2010
Charity runners and walkers are being given a one-off opportunity to test out a brand new road that will link Kirkintilloch and Lenzie to the national motorway system for the first time when it is specially opened for a race later this month (22 August 2010).
Kirkintilloch’s Initiative (KI) and Deafblind Scotland are co-hosting the special road race ahead of its official opening to motorists to help raise funds for a new resource centre for Deafblind Scotland and to allow participants to raise money for their own selected charities.
The new road lies at the heart of Kirkintilloch’s £56 million regeneration programme, which has already seen new state-of-the-art leisure and business facilities created for the town, including a 46-berth marina along the canal. KI, a partnership by East Dunbartonshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, will officially open the road, which will provide the first direct road link from Kirkintilloch and its surrounding areas to the M80, later this autumn.
Special permission has been granted by the road contractors building the road, Carillilion Ltd, in making arrangements for a 5km and 10km charity race before the finishing touches to the road and landscaping are completed. Athletes will have the chance to traverse the full length of the 4km road, making up the additional one or two kilometres through the town from the start and finishing lines in Woodhead Park, Kirkintilloch.
Funds from registration fees for the race will go towards building a new £1.4million training and resource centre for Deafblind Scotland adjacent to the 4km Link Road in Kirkintilloch.
KI Board Member and Convener of East Dunbartonshire Council Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Billy Hendry, says the race is one of many benefits the road will deliver to Kirkintilloch:
“The link road is at the centre of a multi-million pound regeneration programme helping to place Kirkintilloch on the map as a revitalised town offering a wide range of amenities in East Dunbartonshire. Its completion will significantly boost business and tourism in the area and will add to the previous successful projects delivered by KI including a brand new leisure centre and health and care centre.”
“This race will help fund a brand new centre for Deafblind Scotland bringing another custom built facility into Kirkintilloch. KI are not just investing in urban renewal but creating a better quality of life for residents and visitors.”
Drena O’Malley, Resource Manager at DeafBlind Scotland thanked KI for the opportunity to host the race and said:
“It’s fitting that the race will be held right across from where we hope to build our new planned resource centre. It’s a great way of showing participants exactly where the funds and their donations are going. After running the newly surfaced piece of road, the race will finish in Woodhead Park where refreshments will be served. As well as the main race we will be holding a 1k run for children aged 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. Additionally there will be opportunities for individuals to walk along part of the road after the races are complete.”
Runners and walkers taking part in the race will also be able to see the newly installed environmental features along the road worked on by EnviroCentre Ltd, the Ecologists KI have been working with to conserve and enhance the habitats and wildlife surrounding the link road. They have already created a brand new wetland three times the size of the previous Millersneuk wetland, and aquatic corridors beneath the road have already been constructed to allow wildlife to move freely and safely across the road.
To be part of making history and be one of the first people to walk or run on the Link Road then register for the race now at www.deafblindscotland.org.uk. Once registered, participants may also wish to seek sponsorship for any other charity of their choice.
ENDS
For more information please contact Shaheena Abbas on 0131 556 0770 or shaheena.abbas@pagodapr.com
For Deafblind Scotland please contact Jenny Kumar on 07989 557198 or jenny@jkconsultancy.com
