#Amazing Accrington - Winter 2017

BAXENDEN BUGS are an instant success! Natural highs, community spirit and a sports award. The Baxenden bugs have gone from an idea at a SlimmingWorld group, to a running club with 400+ members!

Created by Justine Scammell and KimberlyWhitehead, the Baxenden Bugs is a running groupwith 400+members. Named aer the running app, they aim to encourage friends and local people to get involved in exercising and challenging themselves. The group caters to abilities from jogging a 5K to running amarathon.We chaed to Dave Render, a run leader in the group, to find out more. “The Baxenden Bugs was created by Justine Scammell and Kimberley Whitehead. The idea was to encourage friends and locals to get involved in exercising and to challenging themselves by taking part in something they never thought they could achieve. This is a plan aimed at people just starting to run for the first time” Initially startingwith a group of SlimmingWorldmembers, it was created because therewas nothing else locally available. “Peoplewanted to start a C25K group, this is a NHS running programme aiming to support people from the ‘couch’ right up to completing a 5K race. Kimberley, who had run at RickWilson's Blackburn C25k group first, had the idea and asked if Justinewould help her. They first called the group ‘C25k group Baxenden’. This was back in September 2015 and it was an instant success. Following the initial start-up programme, all members of the group ran in the Baxenden 5k Poppy Run in November 2015. This raisedmoney for Help for Heroes. The group grew as word spread and it quickly became a remarkable success. They nowhavemany organised runs behind themand Justine was awardedwith the Hyndburn Community Sports Inspire Award 2016. “Since the group started there have been various organised runs, including raising £800 towards a newdefibrillator at Baxenden Cricket clubwith a 5K run around Baxenden on 3rd September 2017.” More people soon joinedwhowanted to start the C25k plan and then, as they progressed, this aracted seasoned runners to also join. The group had to quickly evolve tomeet the various needs of themembers.

There are three current plans to choose from, but it’s not just about the end goal. “There is a group for peoplewho just wanted to jog or run at 5k and then another groupwho are running for 10k plans, half marathons and even the Londonmarathon. It's all exciting, we love to see howpeople achieve their goals and become hooked to the natural high that you get fromexercising!” There are nowover 400members at various stages. Runs happen 3-4 times a week and all meets are organised and run by themembers themselves. “We tend to run 3 - 4 times a week and organise themeets with help from runners from the group heading up the three group plans. Monday 11th September 2017 saw the start of the 6th C25K programmewhich will finish with a park run.” With the current ages ranging from7 to 58, there really is something for everyone! For more information, you can contact themon Facebook or via Baxendenrunningbugs.com Meeting times are 7pmMonday and Thursday at Howarth Art Gallery, Hollins Lane, Baxenden.

The Bugs raised £800 towards a new defribillator at Baxenden Cricket Club

Above top: Baxenden Bugs in fancy dress. Running is a family thing.

Above: Hyndburn award winners.

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