History of the Royal Sutton Fun Run
The Royal Sutton Fun Run is not a race – it’s a fun, inclusive event designed for people of all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome, and neither age nor disability is a barrier to taking part.
As an entrant, you’re encouraged to support the heart of the event: raising vital funds for charities and voluntary organisations, ideally across the Midlands. Participants do this by collecting sponsorship for a charity, voluntary organisation, or community interest group of their choice.
Thanks to the efforts of our participants, these funds make a real difference, directly improving the quality of life for people living with physical, learning, or emotional disabilities.
We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of our main sponsors, whose involvement is instrumental to the success of the Royal Sutton Fun Run and its positive impact on our community.
Cookes Furniture have supported the event from its early days, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the local community and to the inclusive values at the heart of the Fun Run. Doug Wright, a former McDonald’s CEO, award-winning entrepreneur, and charity champion, is proud to sponsor the Royal Sutton Fun Run. We’re also thankful for the support of Gravitas Web Design and Cudos Creative, whose digital and creative expertise helps us communicate the spirit and purpose of the Fun Run more widely.
We’re equally delighted to continue our close partnership with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, whose ongoing support reflects a shared commitment to community events that promote wellbeing, accessibility, and community spirit.
In addition, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to our many supporting sponsors for their enthusiasm, encouragement, and ongoing support.
The Fun Run takes place over an 8.5-mile, all-tarmac route. It starts in Royal Sutton Coldfield town centre, before entering Sutton Park at Boldmere Gate after 2.25 miles. The route then winds through approximately 4.5 miles of the park, including the infamous Cardiac Hill, before exiting at Four Oaks Gate after 6.75 miles and returning to the finish line in Royal Sutton Coldfield town centre.
View the route map
Everyone who completes the course receives a specially minted commemorative medal – sponsored by Cookes Furniture.
The Royal Sutton Fun Run has its humble beginnings in 1981, with a conversation between Brian Latham, the then area manager of local sports retailer Sportsco, and Roy Spare – whose son, Tracey Spare, went on to play a pivotal role in the event’s growth and long-term success as Event Director.
Roy Spare took Brian’s idea of staging a Fun Run in Sutton Coldfield and turned it into reality.
In the first year, 1982, 1,300 people participated and raised just over £13,000 for charities and voluntary organisations, mainly within the Sutton Coldfield area.
After 21 years, the event was brought to an end, but not before generating over £1.25million for charities and voluntary organisations, nominated by those who had participated in the event.
Driven by commercial sponsors, the event was relaunched in September 2003 as the Great Midlands Fun Run. The same key objective was retained, to provide a vehicle for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy an event with family, friends, and work colleagues, whilst raising money for charities & voluntary organisations of their choice.
Those intervening years recorded hundreds of charities and voluntary organisations benefiting to the tune of £4.83 million before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the 2020 & 2021 events to be cancelled.
The event celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022 – it is staged in one of only four royal towns in the country – and on its return following Covid restrictions, the decision was taken to revert to the original event title Royal Sutton Fun Run.
Last year’s event 2025 was staged on Sunday 1st June with 5,500 entrants registering, raising £285, 570. 154 charities and voluntary organisations financially benefited from the money raised in 2025.
The total distributed to charities and voluntary groups since the first event in 1982 has now surpassed £5.69million.
Registration for the 43rd Royal Sutton Fun Run opens on Saturday 31st January 2026!