Women’s Aid ABCLN has been announced as one of Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon’s new charity partners for 2023.
The Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 27th August and this year includes the Half Marathon and new Relay Race.
Women’s Aid ABCLN’s newly appointed CEO Gillian Creevy said:
“We are delighted to ‘take up the baton’ as one of Clearer Water Antrim Coast Road Half Marathon’s new charity partners for 2023 and help raise vital funds for our work with women and children affected by domestic abuse in the local community.”
With its flat half marathon course, the Clearer Water Antrim Coast Half Marathon is one of the fastest half marathons in the world. Starting within the town the course sweeps into Larne Harbour and through Ballygally before moving out on to the world-famous Antrim Coast Road.
The race has been granted the World Athletics Elite Label Road Race status and holds the position of number one half marathon in the UK and number two in the world.
Race Director, Ruth McIlroy commented:
“We are so pleased to welcome Women’s Aid ABCLN on board as one of our charity partners not only to help raise much needed funds, but also to raise awareness about the issue of domestic abuse.
“It is so easy to think that abuse is something that happens to other people, but as a female runner my run routes are very much planned around my safety; is it too isolated, is that time of day too dark and so on. So, increasing knowledge and awareness of abuse is so important to making us all feel safer."
Women’s Aid ABCLN provides confidential support, information and emergency accommodation for women and children who are affected by domestic abuse across Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey.
Gillian added:
“One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. PSNI respond to one incident of domestic abuse every 16 minutes. For every incidence we know the impact on women and children can be devastating.
“We believe that no-one should have to live in fear or threat from abuse.”
Race organisers have kindly donated a number of free Half Marathon and Relay Team passes for Women’s Aid ABCLN runners. These are available now on a first come first served basis.
To sign up for the half marathon or relay and support Women’s Aid ABCLN you can contact Arlene Creighton on 028 25 63213 to receive your charity registration code and go to womensaidabcln.enthuse.com/cf/antrim-coast-half-marathon to find out more.
For more information and to register for the Clearer Water Antrim Coast Road Half Marathon go to antrimcoasthalfmarathon.com