Still time to sign up for sponsored charity fun run

Exhibitors and delegates to this month’s APEX and IRE exhibitions still have the chance to raise funds for a deserving Netherlands-based charity.

A 5 km sponsored fun run is to be held at the Amsterdam RAI convention centre on 26 June, and so far participants from companies JLG, CTE Italy, Riwal, Manitou, TH Waites and Dinolift have signed up, as well as from KHL – the publisher of IRN magazine.

The run, which will start at the RAI exhibition centre at 7.00 am, is in support of the children’s charity CliniClowns, which provides entertainment for sick and disabled children in hospitals throughout the Netherlands as well as hospitals in Europe, Australia and the US.

The charity's aim is to offer a welcome diversion to children who are ill and undergoing treatment in hospital, "Not only because these kids deserve it, but also because they benefit greatly from it. Distraction and fun both work to relax the children and reduce their stress levels."

Runners are encouraged to obtain sponsorship for the run, either personally or through their employers. The IRE and APEX exhibitions are covering the costs of organisation - including the provision of showers at the end of the route - so every Euro raised by runners will go to the charity.

A similar run during the 2011 APEX show raised €3690 for the Ronald McDonald Huis in Maastricht, a charity that provides accommodation for families visiting their children in hospital.

The start and the finish of the run are close to the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre, with most of the trail is off-road in the Beatrix Park. A cyclist will accompany the runners.

The show organiser, IPI, would like to have a good idea of the number of runners who will take part, so if you are planning to run please send an e-mail to Han Heilig at: han@practica.nl

For more on the IRE show, and to register, visit www.ireshow.com. For details on APEX see www.apexshow.com. Both events take place at the RAI convention centre in Amsterdam from 24-26 June, 2014.