Sporting event launches in Yorkshire
ENTREPRENEURS Robert Kirby and Paul Collins have launched their sporting event for the first time in Leeds.
The Leeds Eco Trail Trekker is a fitness event and family festival, which encourages a team of participants to walk, jog or run a 10k or 30k course.
Supported by and organised in conjunction with Leeds Beckett University and Yorkshire Sport Foundation the festival is set to encourage people to visit Leeds and give cash boosts to charities acting as the launch pad for a new global charitable endeavor.
Leeds-born Paul Collins is a “leisure guru” and leadership specialist and author, Robert was responsible for the launch of Leeds Crowne Plaza hotel in 1990 and now lives in Penang, Malaysia.
Their business model is based on Robert’s Macau event, Eco Trail Hiker which launched in 2010 raising 2m Hong Kong dollars for local charities with over 14,000 people taking part.
Mr Collins said: “Our modern business model is launching in Leeds, our home city and over the next three years will translate into a global franchise programme, we’re anticipating another 14 events in the UK by 2018. We recognise the wealth of experienced business people in the UK who have the attitude and ability to make a difference to people’s health and wellness, whilst having the professionalism to run successful events and turn entry fees into viable donations to charities, this is what we want to tap into.
‘We’re committed to donating a minimum of 50% of entry fees to designated charities and aim to have over 4000 participants next year. Each competitor will pay £25 to enter the 10k race and £35 to enter the 30k race. Every festival we launch across the UK will have designated charities. For Leeds, we have already pledged to support Marie Curie Foundation, Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, Canal and River Trust and Leeds Lord Mayor’s Charity. Collectively they will benefit from around a £60,000 cash injection next year. Along with the individual donations competitors raise themselves, we project that events will raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.”
Martin Browne from Yorkshire Sport Foundation added: “As a charity that aims to get more people active, Yorkshire Sport Foundation welcomes the UK launch of Eco Trail Trekker in Leeds. We are pleased to contribute to this exciting addition to Yorkshire’s sport and physical activity calendar.”
Eco Trail Trekker will take place 14- 15 October 2017 at Leeds Beckett University where Yorkshire Sport Foundation will organise a mass family festival. Teams of four must cross all check points and the finish line together, working as a unit is one of the core aims of the event.
