Esentepe Fun, Run and Ramble 2016

By Sue Steel – Vice Chair EFRAR Committee 2016…..

E.F.R.A.R. 2016

Raising money for TULIPS (Help Those with Cancer)

The sixth Esentepe Fun, Run and Ramble 2016 took place on Sunday, 10^th April and over 300 turned up to run and walk for the Help Those with Cancer Association (Tulips).

On a glorious sunny day, people arrived to register early with the first event, the 8km, taking place at 0930. This event was aimed at the more serious runners and about 30 Turkish soldiers registered to take part, alongside those not quite so athletic.

Any age can take part — **Any age can join in**

This year, more children took part than ever before. Schools represented were GAC, ESK, Esentepe Junior School and Tatlisu Junior School. A group of scouts from Tatlisu Junior School came along and performed a small tableau based around a tent, to the delight of the onlookers.

Raziye Kocaïsmaïl, President of Tulips, who attended the event said: “This is a wonderful day for everybody. Everyone enjoys the atmosphere and it is important to us as it raises a lot of money for our cancer patient care which we worry about every month. The volunteers are so fantastic to give up their Sunday to come along and do this for the Association.”

As usual, about 50 Association patients and family came along and walked the shorter route, showing their continuous support for the event.

This year, each distance was sponsored by a different organisation and the first three runners in each category received a trophy. The 2km was sponsored by Capital Bank and they kindly produced dedicated t-shirts for the children of Esentepe School. The 5km was sponsored by Iktisatbank and dedicated to the memory of Marian Stokes who did so much for so many in North Cyprus. Finally, the 8km was sponsored by Carrington’s and dedicated to George Roper, the co-founder, along with Alex Kennedy, of the Fun Run way back in 2011.

The winner of the Carrington Shield, 14 year old Kai Fletcher, totally smashed his goal of raising 10,000TL by announcing he had raised a staggering 18.890TL.

**Kai Fletcher receives the Carrington Shield**

During the event, Chairman of EFRAR 2016 Art Watson, announced that a very substantial donation had been made by a consortium of businessmen in North Cyprus and he is now in a position to disclose the amount as 70,000TL which will easily take the projected target total over that which was raised in 2015.

Mr Watson commented: “As we do every year, we wonder if we will be able to instil enthusiasm in enough people to make this event better than the previous year and I believe we have definitely succeeded in that this year. The running of the event was almost faultless, a lot less fraught than 2015, which is just us, as a committee, taking into account things that had not worked in previous years and adjusting the running order accordingly. Financially, we look to be in a very good position and with the Entertainment, Auction and Raffle still to come at Stevie’s Restaurant and Bar on Tuesday, 26^th April we are quietly confident that we can break our record total for last year.”

Can Gazi of BRT assisted Mary Watson to make all the announcements in Turkish and English and there were Turkish speakers on the registration and start line.

EFRAR 2016 Committee wishes to thank ALL their sponsors, large or small, all volunteers on the day, all food outlets and stall holders who turned up on the day and a special thanks to all the participants and their sponsors, without whom, there would be no EFRAR each year.