'We've raised £234,000 running around in circles - here's how you can help too' - Best Foot Forward launched

People are being invited to lap up the funds by taking part in the 2026 Best Foot Forward.

Aldersley Stadium will once again be the venue for one of the region’s most loved, and most effective, fundraisers.

For more than a decade the event, which is devised and organised by the Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton, takes over Aldersley Stadium for a day.

More than £234,000 has been raised and distributed to charities in that time.

The event is supported by the Express & Star, Wolverhampton City Council and the James Beattie Charitable Trust.

It sees hundreds taking to the track at Aldersley, with every lap ‘unlocking’ a pot of cash for charities which has been created through donations given by local companies and organisations.

It is held on the last Saturday in June and last year saw large crowds turn up on a glorious sunny day, taking advantage of the chance to run with friends in the knowledge they were helping charities at the same time. Some completed just a couple of laps for fun, while a hardy few ran several miles through the day.

Richard Horrell, who heads up the club’s organising committee, said: “The 2025 event produced records on all fronts. Record participants, record laps covered, record overall amount raised and record funds for the nominated event charities.”

This year the event charities are Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group, Sponsored Breaks and The Rotary Charitable Trust. These three are guaranteed to boost their funds by a minimum of £3,000 each, and possibly up to £5,000 if 20,000 laps of the Stadium are covered on the day.

As well as providing funds for the three event charities, Best Foot Forward is also available to any other group which needs to raise funds. These groups are invited to use the event as their own sponsored walk, retaining everything they raise to swell their own funds. This has provided more than £95,000 over the years for those choosing to take this tailor-made opportunity. The event even provides individual sponsor forms which can be printed off from the website.

Chris Scordis, Treasurer of the Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group, said: “We are delighted that the Rotary Club has invited us to be one of the event charities again this year.

“This will be our 10th event and, over the years, the last Saturday in June has become a key date in both our social and fundraising calendars. Our supporters really look forward to the atmosphere which is created at Aldersley, with people coming together to support others.”

Mr Horrell added: “This year, as an additional incentive for charities to maximise their funds, there will be an opportunity to take advantage of a ‘BFF Bonus’.

This separate fund has been created by the Club with backing from the James Beattie Charitable Trust and will enable up to 12 charities to enter teams of their supporters and have their funds boosted by up to £500, depending on the number of laps of the Stadium competed by their team.

The event, unique to Wolverhampton, is made possible by the financial support of Best Foot Forward Patrons - community-minded companies and organisations, who each contribute to establish the fund donated to the event Charities.

Many of the Patrons have underpinned the event continuously since it was first staged in 2013.

Mr Horrell said: “We extend a warm invitation to other companies and organisations who would like to be part of this event, which provides help directly to where it is needed across our city.”

Full details on the event and how you can support it can be found at wolverhamptonbestfootforward.com