Countdown begins for this year's Bayer 10k

Organisers announced this week that this year’s race will support one of the town’s flagship charitable organisations, Volunteer Centre West Berkshire.
Entrants can already register for the event on Sunday, May 25, and hopes are high that it can maintain last year’s record turnout, enabling thousands to be raised for the Volunteer Centre and the race’s other beneficiary, athletics club Newbury AC.
The 10k race and junior races raised a record £13,732, last year, which Bayer divided between Naomi House and Jacksplace, the hospice which helps people with life limiting conditions, and Newbury AC, which is the joint race organiser.
Bayer UK managing director, Alexander Moscho, said: “We’re very happy to be supporting the race again this year. As a healthcare company whose mission is ‘Science For A Better Life’, we are very pleased to know that hundreds of people are literally making their lives better by taking part in such a healthy sport as running.
“The Volunteer Centre has a similar help ethic, benefiting thousands of people around West Berkshire since its inception in 1974. This year sees it celebrate its 40th anniversary and, with Bayer having marked its own 150th anniversary last year, it seemed like another good reason for supporting an organisation which has done so much to make a difference to people’s lives in this part of the world. Of course, although this is our nominated beneficiary along with Newbury AC, runners are also free to raise money for their own charities, so many others will benefit too.”
Volunteer Centre director, Garry Poulson, said: “Our entire team at the Volunteer Centre is thrilled to bits that Bayer has elected to support our charity in this way, particularly as 2014 marks our 40th anniversary year. Our transport services such as the Newbury volunteer car scheme, Newbury Handybus and Newbury Shopmobility will all benefit from monies raised.”
Newbury AC spokesman Becky Coxhead said: “You only have to look at the age, range and number of people who enjoy their athletics at Newbury to realise just how much the donations from this event have helped us over the years, allowing and encouraging many to take part.’’
Anyone who would like to enter the 2014 event can go to either www.bayer.co.uk or to www.newburyac.org.uk and all participants will receive souvenirs to remember their event afterwards.