Amnesty International Orkney are organising a 5 Barriers Fun Run, to be held on Sunday 1^st September. This event is 6.5 miles (quarter marathon) from the Barrier View Café (formerly the Commodore Motel) in Holm, across the four Churchill Barriers, touching base on South Ronaldsay, then returning over the 4^th barrier to finish at the Sands Motel in Burray Village.

The 5BFR took place every year from 1999 to 2009, then after a break was reintroduced in 2017 and 2018. The 2019 event had to be cancelled due to the weather and then Covid hit. This 2024 5BFR is hopefully the restart of an annual event in the Orkney calendar.  The event is organised to raise funds for Amnesty International and to promote the importance of Human Rights.  The 5 barriers to be crossed represent five of the main barriers to Universal Human Rights:  Torture;  Disappearances;  Death Penalty;   Child Soldiers; and   Injustice.

The event will start at 2.30pm to coincide with low tide and fingers are crossed for good weather. There is an entry fee of £10 per adult and £5 per child (under 15), or by fundraising sponsorship. Entry and sponsorship forms are available from the Pickaquoy Centre and Trek and Travel in Kirkwall, the Library in Stromness, and from St Margaret’s Hope shops. Forms also at the end of this article.

It is important to note that there is no organised transport between the start and finish venues, so entrants must make their own arrangements for returning to cars. Given how busy it gets at the Celina Rupp Jewellery and Barrier View Café, it is also requested that vehicles are left in the Holm Football carpark. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The Sands Motel kindly provide soup and refreshments at the end venue.

Drivers planning to cross the barriers on the afternoon of Sunday 1^stSeptember should be aware that there will be runners on the road and should allow extra time and take great care when over-taking participants to ensure the event is a safe and enjoyable event.

This is a FUN run – and people can run, walk, bring the dog or push the buggy, it is open to all. 

Forms: