'Generous' runners donate fees after race cancelled

An organiser of a charity run has praised participants who decided to donate their entrance fees to charity after the event was cancelled.

The Dovedale Dash 4.75-mile cross country race was due to take place in October, with nearly 1,300 people signed up, but was cancelled due to heavy rain.

It has now handed more than £3,000 to three local charities, as well as Thorpe Village Hall after runners opted not to have their entrance fees returned.

Erwin van Vroenhoven, a member of the Dovedale Dash committee in Thorpe, said: "We have organised the dash for many years - this was supposed to be the 65th edition of the dash, so a pretty important one."

He added people now pre-registered and paid in advance for the race, which takes runners through the River Dove, past Dovedale's famous stepping stones.

Participants had the option to get a refund, postpone their entry to 2025 or donate the fee to charity when the 2024 event was cancelled.

He said entry was £12.50 per adult and £7.50 for under-18s.

The decision to cancel the race was taken a few days before it was due to take place as Thorpe Pastures - the car park - was waterlogged and the level of the River Dove, which participants run through, was high.

Mr van Vroenhoven said: "Just over 100 people donated specifically to Derby Mountain Rescue, which was £1,166, and a similar number donated to local charities."

He added they had given £500 to Connex Community Support - which helps older people, families, children and young people in Derbyshire - and £500 went to Derbyshire Mind, a mental health charity.

Thorpe Village Hall has also received £1,000.

He added it was "brilliant" and unexpected that so many runners donated.

"We expected most people to either ask for a refund or postpone their entry, but people have decided to give to charity," he said.

"It's fantastic that people are so generous."

The next event is on Sunday 5 October.

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