It feels like the start of a new season when we host the SuperSensory Inclusive Kilometre (SS1K) as part of the Histon Running Festival, on the first May Bank Holiday. This year it was Monday 4th May.
The weather was kinder than forecast. It was overcast, but the threatened rain stayed away, and it was warm enough for 60 people to take part. A big thank you to Mishcons, One Broker and BioMed Realty for their sponsorship, which enabled us to create this inclusive, challenging, inspiring and fun walk, run or wheel.
The course is pretty set now, using the running route for the 1K, 3K, and 5K races. After about 150m there was Smell, superbly run by the Williams family grandparents, who added some of their own items to our base box curated by former Chair Annabel Sykes.
Mark Howard and Steve Shaw, both great champions of Power2Inspire, kept the Sight mysteriously closed up. The reports were great; the bubble machine a huge success again, but it was the wonky mirror that truly scored – one young girl stood in front giggling for ages! It was lovely to see.
The second half of the Williams clan were on Touch, highly recommended by Pippa Wauthier from the Dwarfism Sports Association and co-producer of the recent Hawks Ospreys DSA PowerHouseGames. The Williams family, including Rosie, who I will mention again later, and Penny, have been fabulous supporters of the SS1K for many years and bring panache to the station.
Parthiban and son Harish were joined by Tao, a recent member of the Power2Inspire clan, on Hearing. I heard the party tunes were popular. Harish also acted as my unofficial photographer for the day.
Taste, usually the most popular station, was presented by Maya and Alasdair, both multiple attendees of PowerHouseGames, and this year was no exception. Cut up lemons once again proved remarkably popular – what is it with young people’s taste buds?
A big thank you to Celine for the transport and Zoe, the Lord Lieutenant’s cadet for running registration and helping Rosie Williams with the presentations as participants crossed the finish line. Rosie, a Power2Inspire ambassador, has recently been crowned the British Disabled All Around Gymnastics Champion and is a true trailblazer. She is leading a test event to get Para-gymnastics into the 2028 Paralympics. We are honoured to have her as an ambassador.
There were 60 participants in all, which was a fabulous turnout. At least a dozen went round in wheeled transport, but all smiled along the way.
It is though the stories that get me. The gorgeous young lady who needed to hold my paw (I refer to my stumps as ‘paws’) to get to the first tent, such was her anxiety. Her mum revealed she had been trying to get her to join in for two years – now she has done it!
The profoundly disabled wheelchair user with two carers whose mum says they come every year, because he smiles, engages and gets out and about. She thanked Power2Inspire for making such an event happen.
We thank the Friends of Histon Recreation Ground for inviting us so their running festival can truly be inclusive.
Only two years to go until the 10th – what special things can we do for that?
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you would like to support us in our mission to “embed inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes” then we would love to hear from you. Would you like to host a SuperSensory1K at your local Fun Run or Park Run? Or would you like to volunteer at our next event? Or could you give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. Click the button here to find out more.
All photos used with permission.
