Olympians to give out run medals

Olympic stars including Kristian Thomas will hand out medals at the finishing line of the first road fun run to be held in the town where he trains every week, it was revealed today.

The London 2012 bronze medallist will be joined at the Halesowen Fun Run by fellow Olympian Jess Varnish and Paralympics hopeful Helen Scott, who are both members of the town's cycling club. Organisers hope up to 500 runners will join the 5km race on September 16.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club is calling on residents and businesses to back the event.

Money raised will go to Birmingham Children's Hospital, the Midlands Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Kristian, from Wednesfield, made history when he helped secure a bronze medal in the Team GB gymnastics squad – the first time British men have done so in a century.

He was greeted by hundreds of fans earlier this week when he returned to the Earls Gymnastics Club, in Halesowen.

And Jess, of Bromsgrove, missed out on a medal in the sprint final after she was disqualified along with partner Victoria Pendleton, meanwhile Helen is taking part in the

Paralympics as an able-bodied tandem pilot in the cycling with visually impaired star Aileen McGlynn.

Kristian said: "Events like the fun run are really important and hopefully it will encourage people to get into sport.

"The Olympics have been great and we need to build on that."

Rotary member and fun run organiser Alan Bowler said: "It will be a very proud moment for the town. This is going to be a fantastic opportunity for people to come along and show their appreciation for our local Olympic heroes and we hope to make the day a little bit more special for the runners by asking Kristian, Jess and Helen to hand out Fun Run 2012 medals."