'We are so grateful' - thousands of pounds handed over after incredible 19,000 laps of Wolverhampton stadium completed in Rotary's Best Foot Forward event
Runners, walkers and a handful of dogs have raised thousands of pounds for charities in Wolverhampton - by going around in circles.
The prize pot has been distributed for this year's Best Foot Forward, which was held at the city's Aldersley Stadium.
Wolverhampton Mayor Craig Collingswood handed out cheques after almost £30,000 was raised for good causes.
Best Foot Forward is an almost unique event - the only other one of its kind is held in Monaco.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, a prize pot is collected from sponsors, known as patrons.
This year 26 patrons, including the Express & Star, helped create a pot of £16,000.
People are then invited down to Aldersley to help 'empty the pot' - with £1 released for every lap they complete of the athletics track.
Other charities are also able to jump on board the event, using it to raise money independently through sponsorship.
The event in June brought in a record 760 runners, who covered 19,421 laps, over 4,800 miles. A total of 23 runners qualified for the 'Centurions Club', having exceeded 100 laps of the Stadium. These included Jamie Bird, who completed an incredible 204 laps, the first double Centurion since 2019.
The £16,000 pot was shared between were The Central Youth Theatre and Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, which both received £5,333, and the Rotary Club’s own Charitable Trust, with £2,300.
In addition to the charity pot, £13,405 was raised independently by other charities, using the event as a means of boosting their own funds. The total known to be raised as a result of Best Foot Forward 2025, was £27,203.
Representatives of the charities as well as some of those who ran the furthest were at the Mayoral Suite in Wolverhampton to receive cheques and certificates from Councillor Collingswood.
The Mayor said: "Best Food Forward is more than a title, It is a reminder that progress starts with that first confident step. Each charity supported, every lap run and every helpful hand offered shows that Wolverhampton moves forward together. To Rotary Club volunteers, charities, and centurions this is your day. You have already put your best foot forward and the city is proud to celebrate you."
Anthony Allen, of Central Youth Theatre, said the money would help its 'Acting Up' group, in which people with special needs are able to get involved with acting and music.
He said: "We are one of the very few organisations that work with people with special needs. This group not only want but insist that they put on a full performance, and this year they have chosen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which will be a huge event. But to support that group we need to bring in specialist people and this will be a big help in making that happen."
Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre chairman Derek Clarke, who himself completed 20 laps at the event, told the reception the money would help it raise awareness of the services it offers at its canalside base near Tettenhall Road.
He said: "Next year will be the 40th year of our existence and so we are looking to do a lot more to mark that and highlight our work, and Best Foot Forward will again be a part of that."
Mike Boyce, of the Wolverhampton Rotary Club, said the project had grown year on year, with record numbers at this year's event in glorious summer sunshine.
He said it was unique as it not only directly brought in money from the £16,000 cash pot but also enabled other charities to come along to an organised event and raise money themselves.
He joked: "Monaco is, as far as we know, the only other place where an event like this takes place. It illustrates yet another similarity between the principality and Wolverhampton!
"The event is the result of several teams working together towards a shared goal, to generate funds for the community and that is why it works so well."
Launched in 2013, over the 11occasions it has been held, Best Foot Forward has raised £138,746 for the even's chosen charities and has also enabled other charities to boost their funds by £95,379. This means the sum distributed to city charities as a result of the establishment of the event now stands at £234,025.
To grow the event in the future more Patrons are needed. Any company organisation interested in offering its should contact the Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton. Best Foot Forward 2026 will be staged at Aldersley Stadium, on Saturday June 27 2026.
