Runners take on a 10K Big Sleuth bear hunt

Marathon man Blind Dave Heeley was joined by 15 runners made up of Sandwell Council staff and sponsors of The Big Sleuth for the run between Bearwood and West Bromwich.

They kicked off the run, started by Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Steve Eling, at Bentley The Bearwood Bear in Warley Woods at 10am on Wednesday.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure Councillor Richard Marshall said: “We’ve had another fantastic day during the first week of The Big Sleuth in Sandwell.

“The runners made short work of the 10K course despite the heat and we were all there to cheer them on at the final bear outside Sandwell College’s Central Sixth campus in West Bromwich.”

Blind Dave, who this year will run all 25 Great Runs ahead of his 60th birthday in November in aid of the Albion Foundation, said: “Today was a really fun run shared with staff from the council and West Brom Building Society , great banter, lovely people all sharing one thing.

"I truly hope our run has added to the awareness of the wonderful work the kids hospital does, the kids deserve every chance of becoming an adult and the staff deserve all the funding to be able to provide the care.

"Well done to all who organised and took part today, a job well done and let’s hope all our efforts count through awareness and potential funds raised."

And after visiting the other two Bearwood bears – BearTrix Blocker in Lightwoods Park and Bussy Bear at Bearwood bus station – the group ran through Smethwick, up to Sandwell Valley and to Uncle B, the bear at Sandwell Park Farm.

The last leg of the run was to Bearolution near the Farley Fountain in West Bromwich, before being welcomed at around 11.40am by cheering school children and musicians at Picnic Time For Teddy Bears outside Sandwell College’s Central Sixth campus.

The runners were met by children from Lodge Primary School, a fanfare from The People’s Orchestra, the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Ahmadul Haque, Leader of Sandwell Council Steve Eling, cabinet member for leisure Councillor Richard Marshall plus sponsors, staff from the Arts Café and Central Sixth.

Sandwell Council neighbourhoods staff were joined by Community Activity Network Development Officers who did a relay between the bears, plus Blind Dave’s guide Tony.

The runners also included bear sponsors Ross Lancaster and Dell Blundell from Skate Hut, Nick Trueman from The West Brom and Nigel Lloyd from National Express.

The Big Sleuth has been delivered by Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity in partnership with Wild in Art.

To contribute to Sandwell's fundraising efforts, go to www.justgiving.com/sandwellbigsleuth