The Great Midlands Fun Run is an annual charity fundraising

Fundraising

Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...

 event held in Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...

, West Midlands

West Midlands (county)

The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

The event began in 2003 with a total of over £40,000 being raised. This was doubled in 2004 to £82,700 and a further £81,800 was added in 2005 before raising £108,300 in the 2006 event. In 2006, 163 charities

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 and voluntary organisations nominated by the participants received money from the event. Over £1,000,000 has been raised for charity since 2003.

It is sponsored by numerous local companies including Cookes Furniture, Central Independent Newspapers Ltd who publish the Sutton Coldfield Observer

Sutton Coldfield Observer

The Sutton Coldfield Observer is a free local newspaper serving the residents of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, England. Launched in 1985, it took over from the Sutton Coldfield Times newspaper...

, Tamworth Herald

Tamworth Herald

The Tamworth Herald is a weekly tabloid newspaper published every Thursday in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. Its offices are based in Ventura Park Road, Bitterscote, and its current editor is Gary Phelps...

, Lichfield Mercury and Walsall Advertiser, the Sutton Coldfield Saab

Saab

Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...

 Dealerships (Concept Saab) and Essence Design. The minted medal presented to all who complete the course is sponsored by Cookes Furniture.

The route is 8½ miles long and completely tarmacked. It begins in Sutton Coldfield town centre before entering Sutton Park

Sutton Park

Sutton Park, in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England, is one of the largest urban parks in Europe and the largest outside a capital city; it is larger than Richmond Park in London....

 at Boldmere

Boldmere

Boldmere is a residential area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. It is bordered by New Oscott, Sutton Park, Wylde Green and Erdington, and is in the ward of Sutton Vesey.- Toponymy :...

 Gate and running for 4½ miles before leaving the park at Four Oaks Gate. Participants then return to Sutton Coldfield town centre to finish at The Parade.

The 10th Anniversary event will take place on Sunday 10th June 2012.