Leighton Fun Runners, as the name suggests, is an inclusive and welcoming running club in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. LFR has a proud fundraising heritage, having raised tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities over its 40+ year history.
Each year, the club votes for a charity partner at their AGM in late February. Nic Dimmock and partner Stef Hrycyszyn, nominated Beat SCAD and Stef explained to the packed meeting how SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) had affected her and her family and how grateful they were for the invaluable support Beat SCAD had provided.
LFR’s membership is slightly more skewed to women and it was as important to Stef to take that opportunity to raise awareness of the condition as it was to request funds to continue Beat SCAD’s ability to fund research, support patients and raise awareness. The couple were delighted when the club overwhelmingly voted in favour of Beat SCAD as their chosen charity for 2025-2026. An ambitious fundraising target of £15,000 has been set for the year.
Fundraising events
LFR will be holding regular events to try to raise as much money and awareness as possible over this coming year for Beat SCAD. From the races it organises; quizzes and themed events, such as the Pancake Run and Ho Ho Ho Bingo; to encouraging charitable donations and sponsorship of runners at key racing events. On this last point, new LFR member, Bryn Jenkins, will be running the Brighton Marathon on behalf of Beat SCAD in April 2025 (Click here for his fundraising page).
Once a month the club hosts an event,‘5caKe night’, where members run 5k and afterwards go back to the clubhouse for tea and cake (very civilised!) and this regular event is also used as a fundraiser, with raffles and a collection. Finally, the ever-popular Leighton 10k race is the biggest fundraising event held for the chosen charity. On 7 September 2025, 300 runners will take on the course, which wends its way around Leighton Buzzard and Tiddenfoot Waterside Park (Click here for more information).
Stef is delighted that, through LFR and its wonderful runners and supporters, Beat SCAD will be able to fund more research into the condition, continue to educate medical professionals and support SCAD survivors.
Beat SCAD Trustee, Debbie Oliver, said, ‘We are honoured that the Leighton Fun Runners have chosen the charity to raise funds for this year. As a small charity run by volunteers, we are grateful to all our amazing fundraisers who enable us to continue our work and keep funding research into SCAD to find out why SCAD happens to people with few or none of the risk factors for heart disease.’
Click here to find out more about the upcoming events and Leighton Fun Runners.
