In pictures: It’s a real team effort at Chariots of Fire 2025 relay race in Cambridge
The Cambridge community came together on Sunday (21 September) for the 34th annual Chariots of Fire relay race and raised thousands of pounds for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.
Since it was first founded by HCR Hewitsons in 1991, Chariots of Fire has generated £1.6million for charity, supporting a different local cause every year.
This year’s event was organised by the law firm in partnership with running events company RunThrough.
Two Roald Dahl nurses, Katrina Cousins and Clare Clark from Addenbrooke’s, joined their VIP running mate Amelle Berrabah (singer, presenter and former Sugababes star) to start the race in glorious sunshine before nearly 300 teams of six runners took to the streets.
There are currently more than 200 Roald Dahl nurses working in NHS Trusts across the UK providing care for more than 40,000 children with serious illness.
Money raised on Sunday will help the charity establish more Roald Dahl nurses in this region. Everyone from first-time racers to seasoned athletes took part in the race, with some runners in fancy dress.
The Roald Dahl nurses gave it their everything and there was a ‘banana’ team, alongside those teams seeking a personal best.
Louise Griew, chief executive of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, said: “We had the best day on Sunday.
“We have so appreciated the way this race and the Cambridge community have got behind our charity in the countdown to the event and to the thousands who stepped up to support us on the day.
“It moved and motivated us! Chariots of Fire not only raised vital funds for the work we do but allowed us to share our story and the story of the families our Roald Dahl nurses support.
“Huge thanks and we look forward to sharing news of the difference you will have made.”
The winning teams for each category were:
Male: Normalytics
Female: Lara Pocock Team
Mixed: Lara Pocock Mixed Team
Veteran Male: Cambridge Angels
Veteran Female: Move to Cambridge
Veteran Mixed: Michael Gaunt Ltd
Super Veteran: Legs Miserables
College Team: Jennifer Jenyon’s Team.
There was some friendly competition between HCR Hewitsons colleagues too, as six teams from the firm went head-to-head.
Although they were all in it to win it, they were united by a common goal: to raise as much money and awareness for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity as possible.
Each runner took on a 1.7-mile loop through the city centre, passing through the University of Cambridge’s King’s College and Trinity College.
Racers also had the unique opportunity to run over Trinity Bridge, one of the city’s most striking landmarks.
The race started and finished at Queens’ Green, with food, drinks and entertainment.
The charity race follows in the footsteps of the 1981 film, Chariots of Fire, which tells the story of Harold Abrahams, a Cambridge runner, and his bid to win a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics.
Visit the Chariots of Fire JustGiving page at tinyurl.com/m9e64khm to donate.