{"id":168420,"date":"2025-06-08T20:02:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T20:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168420\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T20:02:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T20:02:16","slug":"run-for-joel-2025-hundreds-of-runners-attend-poignant-10th-anniversary-colour-run-at-sandwell-valley-country-park-to-raise-money-in-support-of-victims-and-terrorism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168420\/","title":{"rendered":"Run for Joel 2025: Hundreds of runners attend poignant 10th-anniversary colour run at Sandwell Valley Country Park to raise money in support of victims and terrorism"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The annual Run For Joel 2025 colour run event returned to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/sandwell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sandwell Valley Country Park<\/a>, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/sandwell\/west-bromwich\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">West Bromwich<\/a>, on Sunday, bringing almost 400 runners and charitable minds together to raise money in support of the victims of murder and terrorism attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The event was organised by the &#8216;Smile for Joel&#8217; foundation, a charity founded by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/local-hubs\/sandwell\/wednesbury\/2024\/02\/01\/bittersweet-but-lovely-day-for-suzy-as-she-receives-her-mbe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0Suzanne Richards<\/a>, who lost her son, Joel, father, Pat and brother, Ade, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/news\/crime\/2020\/06\/26\/you-never-get-over-it-mother-and-son-tell-of-tunisia-terror-attack-grief-five-years-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2015 Tunisia terrorist attack<\/a> that killed 38 people, 30 of whom were British citizens.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0fd094f1-f79a-4dc6-92f7-9cae6e03fc5e.jpg\"   alt=\"Almost 400 people took part in the colour run event to raise money and remember those lost\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Almost 400 people took part in the colour run event to raise money and remember those lost<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expressandstar.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express &amp; Star\u2019s free newsletter<br \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The colour blast run is one of a number of Smile for Joel events that take place throughout the year, with thousands of pounds being raised in support of the group&#8217;s cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/06e17979-5e69-4a8d-a42a-8ebe5a316593.jpg\"   alt=\"The event was organised by Suzanne Richards, who lost her son, brother and father in the terrorist attack. \" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>The event was organised by Suzanne Richards, who lost her son, brother and father in the terrorist attack. <\/p>\n<p>This year&#8217;s run also marks the 10th year anniversary since the tragic attack, with hundreds of people taking place in today&#8217;s event to raise money for the group and remember those lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Talking about the run, Suzanne Richards, co-founder of Smile For Joel with her son Owen, said: &#8220;It has been an amazing community day.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/9ec04e30-7244-4652-86d9-da8dc943b629.jpg\"   alt=\"The event was made even more poignant by the 10th year anniversary, however Suzanne said it's all about bringing the community together\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>The event was made even more poignant by the 10th year anniversary, however Suzanne said it&#8217;s all about bringing the community together<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have had almost 400 people, young and old, come for the run. The children really enjoyed the powdered paints, and we had music and games and amazing food. It&#8217;s been a real community day.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Susanne said that the run was made extra poignant by the anniversary of the attack, however, the focus remained on bringing the community together in honour of those who lost their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ac5e0b78-6aef-42b2-87b0-85431adb53ab.jpg\"   alt=\"Runners young and old took part in the colour run, raising money for victims of murder and terrorism\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Runners young and old took part in the colour run, raising money for victims of murder and terrorism<\/p>\n<p>She said: &#8220;It was a very special day today. Our focus was bringing everyone together to help remember why we do this, to help raise money for families that need it, but also to raise awareness and bring the community together.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I always said that if Joel had survived, it would have been him doing these fundraiser days. This is what Joel, Pat and Ade were like, they would have been doing this instead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/9fabbbf8-a182-4923-8292-c8db6e78affa.jpg\"   alt=\"While being a poignant day, the event also gave a chance for everyone to come together as a community\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>While being a poignant day, the event also gave a chance for everyone to come together as a community<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/63d9558f-f710-410f-a323-cfaeebe0efda.jpg\"   alt=\"There was a little splash of colour everywhere at the race\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>There was a little splash of colour everywhere at the race<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fd6358f1-58b1-4b15-9a14-88dfbcd3b7ae.jpg\"   alt=\"Vibrant colours helped to mark the occasion\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Vibrant colours helped to mark the occasion<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/294afb01-cfd5-4271-9e28-ad931c9e0859.jpg\"   alt=\"Everyone was getting involved in the lovely community day \" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Everyone was getting involved in the lovely community day <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2bbab624-0071-4709-a1c3-7f15df85e0fe.jpg\"   alt=\"Suzanne said that everyone loves colour powder each year \" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Suzanne said that everyone loves colour powder each year <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/7cc37eb2-4ca4-41e7-93fe-2a656040db9f.jpg\"   alt=\"Even our four legged friends were getting involved\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Even our four legged friends were getting involved<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0a87298b-660b-4f70-945d-04d50e8321f0.jpg\"   alt=\"The event also included music, dancing and plenty of food\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>The event also included music, dancing and plenty of food<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ff3061fd-49b3-4456-aaad-b62c5cb89be1.jpg\"   alt=\"The event was a chance for the community to come together as one\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>The event was a chance for the community to come together as one<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/42a42b05-92ee-4193-8937-cd65067e9e11.jpg\"   alt=\"The run returned this year bigger and better than ever\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>The run returned this year bigger and better than ever<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/f46eb977-8a38-4d98-b614-e803d6e545b4.jpg\"   alt=\"Suzanne Richards presented a trophy to the 5k winner, Solomon Clarke\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"w-full max-w-none\"\/>Suzanne Richards presented a trophy to the 5k winner, Solomon Clarke<\/p>\n<p>Susanne said that she is now looking for sponsors for the 2026 colour run event, asking businesses who are interested to visit their charity website.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For more information on ways to donate or sponsor the Smile for Joel charity, visit the group&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/smileforjoel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The annual Run For Joel 2025 colour run event returned to Sandwell Valley Country Park, in West Bromwich,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":168421,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7820],"tags":[855,748,393,4884,379,12,12608,16,15,17299],"class_list":{"0":"post-168420","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-birmingham","8":"tag-birmingham","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-local-hubs","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-sandwell","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-west-bromwich"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114649533595635983","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}