Pink Purse Pampers Runners
Exhilarated runners in the Midlands’ most popular Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ in Solihull yesterday (Sunday 26th June) were presented with a glamorous pink purse packed full of special treats from town centre retailers, at the finishing line in Mell Square, to reward them for their important sporting achievement.
The glamorous purse, part of a major marketing campaign by Solihull Business Improvement District (BID) to encourage people to visit the town centre, was handed to over 3,500 runners on the day and included indulgent offers from KCUK Hair and Beauty Day Spa and Walnut & Weave, as well as Cineworld cinemas, L`Occitane, the Handmade Burger Co, Café Rouge and the Ramada hotel.
The Pink Purse campaign, “That’s So Solihull”, was launched in June and has transformed the marketing of Solihull as a retail destination. To date, the campaign has reached over a million homes including through the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday.
Following a week of unpredictable summer weather the sun finally shone on Sunday as runners streamed past the finishing line, all proudly wearing details of the family or friends they were running in support or memory of.
Shirley Sturzaker, Director of Solihull BID said: “It was a privilege for the BID to be able to support Race for Life in Solihull. Today was an amazing event and I am delighted that our pink purse was able to help reward the efforts of everyone taking part. It also gave us the opportunity to invite them all to return to Solihull, through the generous support of some of the town’s best-loved shops, bars and restaurants.”
Fiona Harrison, who was running with friends Julia Smith, June Harris and Ruth Eyley – in memory of friend Pete Hollins who lost his battle with cancer in May at the age of 49 – was delighted with her unexpected gift. “We’ve had a wonderful day and the purse was an added bonus. Some of the offers are for places I wouldn’t normally go to, so it’s introduced me to some new local shops and restaurants.”
For the retailers, the opportunity to encourage thousands of new visitors to the town centre proved extremely popular. Phillipa Reynolds, Marketing Manager for Tudor Grange Leisure Centre owners Parkwood Leisure and Race for Life runner said: “Parkwood Leisure was delighted to support The Race 4 life Event. Not only did we help to pack the pink purse with special offers but we also got the runners ready to go with a pre-race warm up and advice on fitness and well being. We have enjoyed working with Solihull BID at this event and look forward to offering support at future race 4 life events. ”