Home Page Haverhill News

GP Paul Stephenson is joining a team of 30 runners taking part in a fun run to help raise money to build a new church.

The team from St Felix Parish Church in Haverhill will be taking part in the Haverhill Round Table and Haverhill Running Club '10-5-1' Fun run, organised in association with the Haverhill Weekly News, on Sunday, July 31st.

The runners will be contributing to the nominated Round Table charities which will benefit from the event, but will also be seeking sponsorship towards the fund to build a new Catholic Church in Haverhill.

Dr Stephenson, who practices at Christmas Maltings Surgery in Camps Road, Haverhill, will be one of 10 people taking part in the 10k event, with another 20 taking part in the 5k event, plus other families and volunteers taking part in the 1k Fun Walk.

Dr Stephenson said: "I have been getting quite a bit of flack about it at the practice, but I am in training. I did one four years ago that was just about that far. The whole parish is really getting on board and we are holding a barbecue and social event afterwards."

Father Michael Teader said the parish had expanded considerably over the past five years and the present church was too small for its needs.

I was build as a temporary structure 40 years ago and a new church with seating for 400 people was desperately needed.

The Church plans to sell the old Corn Exchange in Withersfield Road to help pay for the new church.

Father Teader said: "It will be tremendous for the parish to be part of the Round Table '10-5-1' event which has always been such a great fundraiser for local charities. But we are hoping to raise a substantial sum towards the cost of a new Catholic Church for Haverhill by obtaining lots of sponsorship ourselves;"

Ian Wade, a stalwart of Haverhill Rugby Club, is organising the St Felix team and ensuring that the runners are in training.

He said, "It's going to be a great day for the parish."