Over the next 12 months or so, barristers, judges and others connected to the Western Circuit - a barristers' organisation covering Hampshire, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and everywhere in between - will be taking part in the Western Circuit Running Challenge. Our aim is to complete running events in every town or city on circuit which has a major court centre. There are 13 in total, from Portsmouth to Truro, Gloucester to the Isle of Wight. Whatever your finishing time might be, and whether you prefer 10k, half marathon or obstacle runs, please come and join us.

We have already trod the roads in Plymouth with an uphill finish to the Hoe, circulated around Bristol within touching distance of all the chambers there, sped along the seafront and round the two piers in Bournemouth, and conquered the up and down (3 times) of Southampton Common.

Not only is this a great opportunity for circuiteers to meet up with friends and colleagues who we have seen too little of during the pandemic (and to get fit in the process!), but we are also raising money for three charities. Please give generously as both of these charities carry out important work in their fields.

The British Heart Foundation fund over £100million of research each year into all heart and circulatory diseases and the things that cause them. Heart diseases. Stroke. Vascular dementia. Diabetes. They're all connected, and they're all under their microscope. To find out more, please visit the British Heart Foundation website at https://www.bhf.org.uk

Panathlon is a national charity which gives thousands of young people with disabilities and special educational needs every year the opportunity to take part in competitive sport. They adapted to Covid-19 in 2020/21 by offering an array of in-school activities and competitions through a Virtual Programme which helped almost 46,000 SEND students. To find out more, please visit the Panathlon website at https://panathlon.com

Little Hearts Matter provide free information and support to families affected by single ventricle heart disease (where a child is born with only half a working heart). Their vision is to see families able to cope with the diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle challenges that single ventricle heart disease creates and to help them feel less stressed and alone as they live their half-a-heart life. They also provide specially arranged and adjusted sporting and outdoor activities which affected children would otherwise not be able to access. To find out more, please visit the Little Hearts Matter website at https://www.lhm.org.uk/

Next year, we will be doing:

the Winchester General obstacle course on 3rd April

The Great West Run in Exeter (10k or half marathon) on 22nd May

Salisbury 10k Race for Life on 12th June

Taunton 5k on 10th July

the Great South Run in Portsmouth on 16th October

with other dates and venues to be arranged