Members of an Alsager running community have stepped out to raise more over £500 to help a retired British triple jump champion and Team GB Olympic athlete to look after up and coming athletes.

The Home Run, organised by Home Coffee & Studio and The Vault, hosts a five kilometre run every two weeks on a Sunday and yesterday (Sunday) runners were joined by two Olympic athletes.

Ben Williams, retired former British triple jump champion and Team GB Olympic athlete and a big coffee fan and regular at Home Coffee invited fellow Team GB athlete Jazmin Sawyers along to the event.

Jazmin led a "pro" warm-up for everyone on the grass are in front of Alsager Civic before runners stepped out on their Easter Sunday event.

Home run organised a raffle to raise funds for Ben Williams who is running the London Marathon in aid of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund to support Ben's fundraising campaign here

Team GB athlete Jazmin Sawyers putting the Alsager runners through their paces. (Photo: Home Studio)

Ben said: "I have been involved in athletics for many years, progressing through the junior ranks and experiencing first hand how demanding the transition from junior to senior level can be.

"This stage is often where talented athletes struggle the most, with increased training demands, higher competition standards, financial pressures and the mental challenge of adapting to elite level expectations.

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"During this crucial period, the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund provided invaluable support. Their backing helped me through one of the most difficult phases of my career and allowed me to continue training, developing, and believing in my potential when it mattered most.

"Their support is not just financial. It represents trust, encouragement, and belief in young athletes at a time when many are at risk of stepping away from the sport.

"The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund has a long and proud history of supporting athletes through similar challenges. Over the years, they have helped many individuals continue their athletic journeys, with some going on to become Olympic champions.

"Their impact on British athletics is remarkable, and their commitment to supporting future talent remains as strong as ever.

"By running the London Marathon, I am hoping to raise funds to ensure that more young athletes receive the same opportunities I did.

"Support at the right moment can make the difference between giving up and breaking through. Any donation, no matter the size, will help the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund continue their vital work and support the next generation of athletes chasing their dreams. Thank you very much for your support."

Ben added: "Hosting an event like this would only be possible with the help of a community like The Home Run and Sunday morning really showcased how strong that community is. 

"With the extra help of our special guest Jazmin we managed to raise over £500! I'm very grateful for everyone who took time out of their day to take part and more importantly made a donation. 

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Brad Lancaster from The Vault said: "It's not very often you get to share the roads with athletes of Ben and Jazmin's calibre so we had a blast.

"It was another great opportunity for the community of Alsager to shine and they certainly did, especially on Easter Sunday" added Alex  Melhuish from Home Studio.

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