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100 years after the vote, why women ran for equality at the British 10K

The #Westminster100 team - Julian Gregory
The #Westminster100 team - Julian Gregory

Thousands of runners took to the streets of central London yesterday, as the British 10K 2018 saw figures from across business, sport and media join members of the public to raise awareness for the UN’s work spreading the word of gender equality around the world.

In temperatures that soared to nearly 30C, 12,000 people ran a special course past some of the capital’s most famous landmarks – described as “the ultimate tour of London” – for the most successful British 10K yet.

Among the competitors were an exclusive group of 100 runners marking 100 years since women gained the right to vote in the UK.

To honour that centenary, Virgin Sport partners with UN Women National Committee UK to create the #Westminster100, a team consisting of competition winners, British influencers, sports personalities and editors, who ran together to raise funds to empower voiceless women to practice their right to vote. It may be taken for granted in the UK, but in many countries such as Pakistan, female voter turnout was as low as 3 per cent in recent elections.

julian gregory 10k - Credit: Julian Gregory
Runners lined up in London Credit: Julian Gregory

Olympic gold-medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, entrepreneur Holly Branson and celebrity chef Melissa Hemsley all took part, as well as BBC cricket commentator Alison Mitchell and TV doctor Dr Zoe Williams.

“I was so proud to support the #Westminster100 team at the Virgin Sport British 10K. Gender equality is so important to me. It's the perfect synergy to unite sport and women’s rights to raise awareness for the amazing work that UN Women NC UK are doing around the world,” Dame Kelly Holmes said.

Before the race, entrants heard speeches from Laure Haynes, Chair of UN Women NC UK, who spoke about the group’s philanthropic work promoting gender equality around the world, and a few expert words of motivation from Holmes. The race then saw them run down Embankment, past Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, past the new statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett and into Trafalgar Square.

Women Mean Business | Read about our campaign
Women Mean Business | Read about our campaign

At every kilometre, bands and DJs made the event into a patriotic street party, yet there was still a race on: the 2018 British 10K was won by Dewi Griffiths and Rachel Felton with times of 29:41 minutes and 34:56 minutes respectively.

"I'm excited to have been part of it, honouring all the great women who have come before us and to celebrate the amazing women who inspire me now. London is the best city in the world and it was great to run around our beautiful capital, there was such positive vibes," Melissa Hemsley said.