Striders' Charity of the Year
Desford Striders have chosen to support Loros during 2026-27
LOROS Hospice is a local charity and every year we care for around 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We deliver free, high quality, compassionate care and support to terminally ill patients, their family and carers.
Loros offer specialised care for those aged over 18 with complex problems who are suffering from a terminal illness when cure is no longer possible. Our care is unique to each individual
· Short-stay inpatient care for symptom management (average length of stay being 2 weeks)
· Care in the last days of life
· Advice and support in the patient’s home
· Palliative day therapy
Find out more on their website https://loros.co.uk/
How do we choose the charity of the year?
It is decided entirely by the club members! Each year club members nominate charities that they think will benefit.
The whole club then votes on the nominated charities, and the winner is our next Charity of the Year.
What do we do to support the charity?
There are many fundraisers planned throughout the year, with the aim that Striders can replicate the success of previous years.
We stage several events during the year, including the annual Steve Morris 5 LRRL league race, where Striders and other club runners made generous direct donations of food and hygiene products.
We often donate excess proceeds from races and other events to the charity.
In addition, a number of social events, including the annual summer and Christmas parties and numerous other fundraisers, raffles, auctions and other events raise a significant amount of money.
Where appropriate, we encourage our nominated charity to help us with events, such as water stops and marshalling.
Previously supported Charities
2025 - 2026 Leicestershire Cares
Leicestershire Cares aims to help build an inclusive and safe Leicestershire and Rutland, where nobody is left behind. They support children and young people to reach their full potential
They work with local businesses, community groups, local government and schools to provide opportunities for children and young people to gain experience and life skills.
Find out more on their website www.leicestershirecares.co.uk
2024 - 2025 Sea Changers
Sea Changers charity works with businesses and individuals to raise funds which are then used to pay for projects all around the UK's coastline and particularly focuses on grassroots schemes that galvanise community action and projects that encourage people to take direct action for marine conservation.
2022 - 2023 Stroke Association and Sandcatle Trust
As a result of two club tragedies, we decided to support two charities.
Club stalwart and run leader Stuart Hall suffered a major stroke and very sadly passed away two days later at the age of 55. As a result we decided to support the Stroke Association
Our second charity was the Sandcastle Trust, which is a small independent charity that supports families living with a diagnosis of a rare genetic condition.
The charity gave huge support to Striders’ member Gemma Dixey and her family after her son Noah was diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition, Alagille syndrome, when he was just eight weeks old. Noah had been in and out of hospital all his life, having numerous operations. In October 2021, having just turned nine, Noah very sadly passed away just three days after undergoing a 14-hour operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London.
2023 - 2024 Hinckley Area Foodbank
With the UK in the grip of the hardest cost of living crisis in memory, Desford Striders are demonstrating their commitment to helping those most in need by selecting the Hinckley Area Foodbank as its Charity of the Year for 2023.