In brief: The ninth annual Run for Frubbs memorial event returns to Jersey on 29 November, covering a ten-mile coastal route from Castle Quay. Proceeds will be split between Headway Jersey and Jersey Stroke Support, in memory of Frank “Frubbs” MacFarlane, who died in 2017 after suffering a brain injury.
A Fond Tribute Enters Its Ninth Year
Some events earn their place on the calendar not through corporate sponsorship or prize money, but through sheer affection. The Run for Frubbs is firmly in that category. Now in its ninth year, this ten-mile memorial run honours Frank “Frubbs” MacFarlane, originally from Dumbarton, Scotland, who spent many years working in Jersey’s hospitality industry before his death in 2017 following a brain injury. Bailiwick Express reports that he is fondly remembered by those who knew him for his “warmth, friendship and love of life.”
The event is organised by Mr MacFarlane’s close friend Harry McAlinden, with Trail Monkey Jersey’s Paul Burrows providing sponsorship. It is, by all accounts, exactly the kind of grassroots community occasion that Jersey does rather well.
The Route and the Cause
Participants will set off from Castle Quay from 9:30am on Sunday 29 November, following a scenic coastal route towards St Aubin before heading back through the Railway Walk. It is a route that showcases some of Jersey’s finest coastal scenery, which is no bad incentive for lacing up your trainers on a November morning.
The run welcomes participants of all abilities, whether seasoned competitors or those simply looking for a worthwhile challenge. Entrants must be over 18, and the registration deadline is Thursday 19 November. Those unable to run can still get involved by volunteering as event marshals or donating baked goods, with donations to the cause also accepted directly.
Proceeds will be divided between two local charities: Headway Jersey and Jersey Stroke Support. The connection to Headway Jersey is a personal one. Mr MacFarlane was a member of the organisation and, as an avid fan of The Who and The Rolling Stones, would regularly bring his CDs into the Headway Jersey day centre to play during arts and crafts sessions. It is the sort of detail that says everything about the man the run is designed to celebrate.
How to Take Part
Those wishing to run can register online before the 19 November deadline. Anyone interested in volunteering as a marshal or contributing baked goods can contact Paul Burrows directly at paul@trailmonkeyjersey.com. Donations to the cause can also be made online.
Source: Bailiwick Express
