Colin Jackson launches his Sanlam Go Dad Run 2015 events.

2 June 2015

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GRD Event-162 — National launch of Colin Jackson's 'Sanlam Go Dad Run 2015' 5K for men and boys. From left: Frankie Poultney, Mark Foster, Sian Lloyd, David Seaman, Colin Jackson, Elizabeth Emanuel, Leon Taylor, Diana Bunici, Manoj Shah, Dan Olsen, Giles Cross, Fernando Montano. Photo by Kii Studio.

Former World, European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion and Olympic silver medalist Colin Jackson was joined by many famous friends this evening at the Malmaison Hotel in Charterhouse Square, London when he launched his 3rd annual Sanlam Go Dad Run 5K’s for men and boys.

This year the Go Dad Run 5K for men and boys aged 11+ returns to Llangefni, where the first ever event was staged in 2013, and is one of six that will be held around the UK during the month.

The event is a fundraiser for Go Dad Run’s official charity partner, Prostate Cancer UK. There will also be a Bee Y’z 1k for children.

At the launch, Colin was joined by a wide range of friends and supporters of Go Dad Run including six time world swimming champion Mark Foster, TV presenters Sian Lloyd and Diana Bunici, former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman and his wife, ice skater Frankie Poultney, iconic fashion designer Elizabeth Emanuel, former World and Olympic Triple Jump champion Jonathan Edwards, Olympic silver medalist diver Leon Taylor, singer Dan Olsen, Manoj Shah from the cast of the Sky series Desi Rascals and Royal Ballet soloist Fernando Montano.

After the photocall Colin Jackson spoke about the Llangefni 5K as he’ll be travelling there to set the runners off on June 7.

He said: ‘I’m delighted that we are returning to Llangefni this year as we had such great support from local runners and organisations in 2013 and I deliberately chose that location as I am such a big fan of Anglesey. We hope that several hundred men and boys will go to www.godadrun.co.uk, sign up, get sponsored and enjoy a really great Sunday morning run so that all the men in the family can share some time together. And, of course, we hope that all the wives, mums and daughters will be there to cheer them on!”

Entry fees are £15 for adults and £10 for 11-17 year olds and all runners get a pair of the lighthearted Sanlam Blue Yfronts and a PUMA tshirt when they arrive on the day, and then when they cross the finish line they are handed a medal and a Big Yellow Goodie Bag, which is also a small sportsbag.

The first three finishers will also win a Timex Ironman watch.

Colin is the founder of the Sanlam Go Dad Run and he created it in 2013 to raise awareness of men’s health issues and funds for our charity partner, Prostate Cancer UK.

Colin came up with the idea after two of his uncles developed prostate cancer and, sadly, only one survived and when he was researching the subject he was shocked to discover that 1 in 8 men in the UK will develop prostate cancer and that rises to 1 in 4 men of a black African/Caribbean background.

Inspired by the extraordinary success of Race For Life he organised his own pilot event in 2013, expanded that to three runs last year and is staging six this June. The ambition is to at least double that next year and spread the project out across the UK.

The first Sanlam Go Dad Run 5K this year is in Anglesey on June 7, and they then take place in Worcester (June 14), Warrington (June 14), Bristol (June 18) before the two flagship events on Father’s Day June 21, in Bute Park, Cardiff and Southwark Park, London.

Colin saw Go Dad Run as a great opportunity to get dads and sons, brothers and uncles, friends and neighbours, all together to do something fun and healthy on Father’s Day or during the build up – but we also need all the mums, daughters and sisters to get behind the men and support them on the day!

Go Dad Run’s headline sponsor is Sanlam UK and their supporting sponsors are Big Yellow Self Storage and PUMA.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more then please follow Go Dad Run on twitter and facebook and all information is on the website www.godadrun.co.uk