Our speaker this week is Derek Larner who has recently formalised his work creating 345 Athletic Club. 345AC provides coaching, support, mentoring, leadership for those participating in track and road running, and is mostly focused on 10-20 year old members. The club is relatively new and has been successful in attracting membership and last year brought home a number of trophies.

 345AC is self-supporting through subscriptions and it’s own fund raising events. There are a small number of club members that are from less well off backgrounds, and the club very much wants to be as inclusive as possible. Some of these kids cannot afford the running shoes that would allow them to participate and achieve to their true potential, let alone club shirts and travel costs of participating in international events.

 

One of Derek’s goals is to secure funding to help the less well off kids participate on an equal basis, making sure they have shoes that fit, and are able to participate based on their own merit and achievements.