Running group call for climate action in the sport

The Green Runners Damian Hall and David Starley. Damian is wearing a bike helmet and a yellow neon jacket. He has his arm around David and is pointing at him, smiling. David is also wearing a helmet and a white t-shirt, smiling at the camera.The Green Runners
Damian Hall (L) and David Starley (R) are among the founders of The Green Runners

A running club has launched a campaign to promote climate action in the industry.

The Green Runners, a group which helps athletes live more sustainability, have created the Race for Change project to build a community and work towards action for the environment.

It was launched by Jasmin Paris MBE, Dan Lawson, and Damian Hall, an ultra-marathon runner from Corsham, Wiltshire.

The Green Runners was launched in 2022, after the founders realised how much the sport contributes to climate change, mainly through travel, clothing and equipment.

Damian Hall standing with two women at an awards ceremony. They have their arms around each other and are all looking and smiling at the camera
The Green Runners were nominated for a BBC Green Sport Award in 2023

Through the campaign, the group hopes to raise £50,000 to expand its work.

It comes as the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warns that the planet is likely to warm by 1.5ºC by the end of the century.

Ross Brannigan, from The Green Runners, said: “For the last two years, every Green Runner who has pledged to make a change in their lives for the planet is taking genuine action for our environment.

"Now, it’s about expanding that work, working with clubs and communities across the world, and collaborating with brands and events.

"This crowdfund does not just affect runners; it affects all of us, and we can make a genuine difference in this time of crisis.”

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