IT HAS been reported recently in some of the press that Ruby Country Initiative (RCI) hosted the Ruby Run half marathon. Nothing could be further from the truth, since the event belongs to the town councils of Holsworthy and Hatherleigh and the event is organised by a committee comprising individuals and councillors from both towns (including both mayors) along with representatives from Torridge District Council and West Devon Borough Council. There was a brief period when a representative from the Ruby Country Initiative was also involved but the event was never ?hosted? by RCI. Funding for the event is obtained each year from business sponsors and continues to go from strength to strength organised this year, as usual, by the committee without the involvement of RCI. We all want to promote the Ruby Country area and hope that RCI starts to function again but it is wrong to suggest that the Ruby Run is an RCI event and therefore subject to the same uncertainty as the RCI organisation itself. As indicated, the half marathon is a continuing success and this year was able to donate £6,000 split evenly among Devon Air Ambulance, Holsworthy Town Band and Hatherleigh Silver Band. All of the considerable sponsorship money collected by runners and walkers went to these organisations. Planning is well underway for this year?s event on Sunday June 11 (details available on the website http://www.rubyrun.co.uk">www.rubyrun.co.uk) and will take place whether RCI ?booms or busts?. However, we will welcome a representative from that organisation when it is fully up and running again. Martin Prentice Ruby Run Committee
