Hawkinge Hurricanes is a non-profit, all-ability, all-inclusive, road running club, with a schedule of three to four sessions per week at two different sites. The club was formed in 2016 and now has well over 200 members, supported by 11 volunteers. Their offer includes:
- Four England Athletics trained Mental Health Champions offering ‘run and talk’ and ‘run and revise’ sessions for those experiencing mental ill health.
- Three visually impaired (VI) guide runners who offer free assistance to athletes with visual impairments so they can participate in parkruns and local events.
- Support for disabled athletes within the club with adaptable training sessions.
- A new venture to offer free weekend sessions to Down’s syndrome athletes. A group of volunteers have undergone additional training to help support this group.
The club has worked with charities such as DS Active, 21 Together and Folkestone Mind, as well as offering free VI guides to Sporting Events UK and parkrun Folkestone. They are also engaged with local schools, offering free weekly sessions at The Churchill School for children in years 5 and 6. There are currently 25 children involved with this ‘Mini Marathoners’ project which will run for three academic terms.
One of the founding principles of the club was to develop something to bring the local community together and offer something for everyone, from complete beginners through to people wanting to compete in races. They aim to support local businesses by using them for services such as clothing, embroidery, web hosting, medals and gifts.