People who choose to give up their time in support of the second Chesterfield Marathon will now earn money for their chosen charity thanks to a new initiative launched by organisers of the event.

The ‘Volunteer Share Scheme’ allows charities to collect ‘shares’ in the race day profits, with every volunteer that an organisation puts forward equalling one share.

Once all the money raised by the Chesterfield Marathon has been collected, 25 per cent of the final profits will be split amongst the organisations – using the ‘shares’ that have been created by volunteers.

The rest of the profits raised at the marathon, which takes place on Sunday 20th September, will once again be donated to Kids n Cancer UK, based in Chesterfield and organisers of the event. The charity specialises in securing proton therapy treatment for children with different forms of cancer and at the same time helping and funding living and accommodation for patients and their families.

Volunteer duties will include manning drinks stations to providing first aid, selling prize draw tickets, programmes and manning the runner enrolment desks on the day of the marathon. All volunteers will be given branded clothing, refreshments and food whilst on duty as well as a ‘Volunteers Village’ to return to in Queen’s Park, where the volunteers can meet, swap stories and relax after the race is complete.

Mike Hyman, co-founder of Kids n Cancer UK and organiser of the Chesterfield and Derbyshire Marathon, said: “Our volunteers provide us with invaluable support in the lead up to and on race day.

“Volunteering at an event of this scale is extremely rewarding and is a fantastic way for people to get involved who want to show their support but are not actually taking part in the race itself.

“We hope that the Volunteer Share Scheme will give charities and organisations further incentive to get involved in the marathon and it means that, whatever their size, they can get something back in return. We are looking forward to seeing lots of kind hearted people there helping us and their chosen causes.”

This year, all the races will start and finish at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield, along with some other route changes (following feedback from last year’s inaugural marathon) to improve traffic control and access, as well as added interest for the runners. Full details for the route changes, as well as the activities on race day are on the Marathon website.

Running options on the day include the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Fun Run and Team Relay race (where four competitors take a share of the course).

For more information about the Volunteer Share Scheme or to sign up as a runner in the Chesterfield Marathon, visit www.chesterfieldmarathon.org.uk.

(Photo: – (left to right) Chesterfield Marathon’s project manager Andrea Hooley, Kids ‘n’ Cancer’s co-founder June Hyman, CEO and co-founder Mike Hyman and Chesterfield Marathon’s volunteer co-ordinator Julie Harrington)

More than 1,600 people are expected to walk, jog and run through Chesterfield town centre on Sunday, 14th June for Cancer Research’s Race for Life.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy said: “We are pleased to support Chesterfield’s Race for Life event each year because it is such a good cause.

“All of us will have been touched by cancer at some time in our lives either through having the disease or knowing someone who has.

“There may be some disruption in the town centre while the race is underway but this will be kept to a minimum and roads and car parks will open as soon as the race participants have passed.

“Good luck to everyone taking part.”

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will temporarily close:

• Queens Park North car park
• Rose Hill car park
• Albion Road car park

In addition, Soresby Street car park will open only for participants in the event. It will reopen to the public once the race is finished.
During the race alternative parking can be found at Saltergate multi-storey, Holywell Cross (Donut), Ashgate Road, Queen’s Park South or Queen’s Park Annexe car parks.

The footbridge from West Bars to Queen’s Park is currently closed while Derbyshire County Council carries out repairs.  However, the bridge will be open to participants on the day of the race but not the public. This is because the bridge surface is too narrow to have both spectators and participants while the work is carried out.

Several roads around the town centre including around the Town Hall, Knifesmithgate, Elder Way, around the Crooked Spire church and sections of West Bars, New Beetwell Street, Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road will also be closed for periods between early morning and early afternoon while the race takes place.

(Image Courtesy of Claire Davison Photography)

New Spireites manager Dean Saunders has agreed his first deal with experienced striker, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Ebanks-Blake played under Saunders at Wolves and scored 61 league goals during his time at Molineux, making 123 starts.

Saunders believes the 29-year-old will be a great signing for Chesterfield. He said: “Sylvan is just what the team needs. He’s strong and when the ball comes into the box, he’s where it should be. He’s hungry to play and he wants to be part of a winning team.”

Ebanks-Blake started his career at Manchester United and had a spell on loan at Royal Antwerp in Belgium before joining Plymouth Argyle in 2006.

A successful time in Devon saw him earn a £1.5million transfer to Wolves in 2008 and he was a regular goalscorer in the Championship.

Ebanks-Blake linked-up with another former Wolves manager when Mick McCarthy took him to Ipswich Town in December 2013. He agreed a short-term deal to join Preston North End in January of this year and was limited to just one league start due to the impressive form of strike-duo Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford.

John Challis, who starred as Boycie in long-running TV sitcom Only Fools & Horses, will appear in an All-Star Events night at the Proact Stadium later this year.

John will recount anecdotes from his time in the ever-popular show when he heads to Chesterfield on Friday, August 21 (7pm for 7.30pm).

Classic Only Fools & Horses clips will be shown and there will be some fun competitions, with prizes to be won!

Those attending will also have a chance to be photographed with John and secure his autograph.

Admission to the event, which includes fish, chips and mushy peas, costs just £19.95. To book, please email richardkew@chesterfield-fc.co.uk or phone 01246 209765 (ext 4153)

The second Chesterfield Arts & Crafts fair will take place on Saturday 13^th June 2015 between 2pm and 4pm at Chesterfield Studios, on Rose Hill, Chesterfield.

The fair aims to celebrate creative talents in Chesterfield – not just by providing quality locally made products from independent artists and craftspeople but by exhibiting work and giving local performers an audience too.

13^th June 2015 is also the tenth annual World Wide Knit In Public Day, and the StraightCurves Charity Knitting Group will be celebrating this by hosting a picnic (outdoors, weather-permitting, but we’ll move indoors if the British Summer plays its usual tricks!). We would love people to come along and join in – just bring along your current knitting or crochet project and have a natter!