8:50am Friday 12th March 2010
By Kevin Bradford
DELIGHTED début marathon runners from a North Finchley theatre are celebrating after their exertions helped raise money for a youth project.
A team of five from artsdepot completed in the Bath Half at the weekend and raised £1,500 for a club night for disabled young people.
The cash will help the theatre organise workshops for youngsters who want to take part in open mic sessions, whether that be singing with a live band, organising the lighting or setting up the video screens.
Jennifer Raingold, marketing officer at artsdepot, came up with the idea of running the 13.1 mile course, and said the buzz of the day helped them get around.
“It went really well and we all managed to finish in good times,” said Jennifer.
“It was a great atmosphere and people in the streets were giving us lots of support. It was like a festival party atmosphere and it was really good motivation.
“We were all driven by everyone who has supported us with donations and the cause was something we were thinking about all the way round.”
Jennifer said the money will enable the arts centre, in Tally Ho, to run the workshops for any of the young people who suffer from learning difficulties that want to take part in Clive.
She said they doubled their initial fundraising target which means they can provide the services for at least a year.
“It will be more enjoyable for the people wanting to take part and it will give them the confidence to get on the stage,” she said.
“It really is a tangible result for all the work we put in. We wouldn't have been able to run the workshops without the money we have raised and would have had to look elsewhere for the funding.”
Jennifer finished the half marathon in two hours and 15 minutes. The other participants from artsdepot were Jack Judd and Kieran Doyle, who both finished within about two hours, Inga Hirst, who recorded a time of two hours and 25 minutes, and Ruby Baker, who came in after two hours 35 minutes.
To donate to the cause, visit www.justgiving.com/cliveartsdepot.
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