Once again we have some very special plans this year to come together as a community in something we can all enjoy; we will have the BIG SING, which made ushc a big emotional impact last year, as well as the running (or walking or hopping or skipping) and much more besides.
The theme for the is will be Land and Food : and this will be the focus for Saturday in an expanded Palestinian voices tent, which was such a success last year, and we will follow this with a solidarity supper.
Programme for small park BIG RUN 2024
| Date / time | Activity | Extra marshals? |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 22nd June, from 11.30 | Registration tent will be open! | We will need four marshals at least around the course all 24 hours to keep runners safe and encourage them. |
| Saturday 22nd June, midday. | small park BIG RUN 2024 starts. We will be set off by a Sheffield based Samba band | |
| Saturday 22nd June, midday till Sunday 23rd June midday | The solidarity camp and 1948 Nakba exhibition. By the solidarity tree that was planted last year we will have a small camp signifying the terrible displacement for 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. We invite you to go and talk to them and see the exhibition. (But do be sure to cross the course at the crossing point!) | Sign up to be a marshal and make sure the crossing point stays safe |
| Saturday 22nd June, midday. | Walled garden cafe opens | |
| Saturday 22nd June 12.45pm – 5.30pm | Palestinian voices: join us in the Palestinian Voices Tent to hear from farmers and importers of Palestinian produce. Details available here | |
| Saturday 22nd June, 1pm-5pm. | Lantern workshop Come and make a lantern to light up the the woods in the night. Little and big folk welcome. | |
| Saturday 22nd June 2pm-5pm | Join the writing team for a poetry workshop | |
| Saturday 22nd June 2pm-5pm | Families for Gaza craft workshop Come and make a Bird for Gaza, a picture of Palestinian food, a badge or listen to Palestinian story time, bring your family! | |
| Saturday 22nd June 4pm | Walled garden cafe closes | |
| Saturday 22nd June 6pm to 7.30pm | Solidarity Supper: join us for a delicious Palestinian meal. Details coming soon | We will need two extra marshals to help people get their ticket for the supper and guide them to get served |
| Saturday 22nd June, about 7.30pm till about 8pm | Lantern procession We will hang all the the lanterns that were made in the day in the woods to light them up at night. | We need two extra marshals to help the children up the hill and to help hang the lanterns |
| Saturday 22nd June, about 8.15pm till about 8.45pm | Torch of remembrance Be part of a solemn procession taking a torch around the park course to remember all those killed during the genocide. We will hand out LED candles to light your way and be placed at the solidarity tree after. | We will need four extra marshals to keep space on the course for the runners |
| Saturday 22nd June 8.45pm | Live Oud performance from Ahmad Adnan | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 10 am | Palestine Voices Tent breakfast talk. Details available here | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 10.30 am | Walled Garden cafe opens | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 11 am | Buskers hour is back! Buskers’ Hour is a chance to come to the park and hear some music all around the park played for Palestine. | We will need two extra marshals to help ensure we have people encouraging everyone to take part in the BIG SING |
| Sunday 23rd June, midday | Run ends. Lord Mayor will be handing over a certificate on behalf of all the children who have participated. we hope to facebook live this event. Watch this space. | |
| Sunday 23rd June, midday-ish UK time | The BIG SING and (if we can) live link up with Palestine: join in our mass solidarity sing led by six Sheffield based choirs. You can join in too. The more the merrier. Bring a hanky | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 12.30pm | Fun run Free lap dash around the park with ice pops and a certificate. | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 12.45pm | Run closes | |
| Sunday 23rd June, 1.30pm | Walled garden cafe closes |
Since last year, we have seen some awful moments and you may feel funding on the ground is the most important thing we can do. We have had statements from the two charities that we support at small park BIG RUN and they were published in our February newsletter. And the Emergency Relief fund get regular updates.
But it is also important that we hold solidarity events like this. It is important for us to be together and it is important for Palestinians who struggle to keep their candles of hope burning day to day. We hope you enjoy the programme we have set up.