Hundreds of pounds are raised for charity every year by the pancake race, here we meet one of the runners in 2011: Bev Field.
Bev has lived in Olney for three years and is a member of the Baptist Church. She is running in the Pancake Race this year to raise money for the MK Food Bank.
The Food Bank is a local charity which provides emergency food parcels to families and individuals who hit a short term crisis, filling the gap of days or sometimes weeks before the professional care services can come into play. Bev explained:
"The Food Bank can help people who are stuck in the poverty trap. Perhaps someone is a young mum struggling to make ends meet, has been recently made redundant, or is crippled by unmanageable debt. Referrals can be made by people like GPs and Social Services for a short term period so that the person has a chance to get back on their feet again."
In the last year there has been high demand on the help that the Food Bank can give people across Milton Keynes and in Olney. And it the Food Bank's local connection that was part of Bev's inspiration:
"The Food Bank also benefits people in Olney, so I have chosen to run this local race to benefit local people."
Bev works as a mental health advocate in Milton Keynes and she comes into contact with a lot of people who need a bit of extra support. She knows people who have been helped and supported by the Food Bank and said she has seen what a big difference it can make in someone's life.
Bev has three children and is married to the church minister of Olney Baptist. So what about training for the big event?:
She said "I keep fit and active, using the gym in Olney and enjoying walks round Emberton Park. But I now realises I need to take running and pancake-flipping seriously, so any training tips would be most welcome!"
"The Pancake Race is a daft but fun local event and joining in means that I can raise money for a worthy cause."
Bev has a great deal of family support: her daughter Hannah is organising the fund raising effort. And Bev is appealing to OlneyOnline readers:
"I hope you will support the Food Bank by sponsoring my run. Please sign up on sponsor forms in the foyer at the Baptist Church or you can sponsor me online at www.justgiving.com/bev-field."
You can find out more about the Food Bank at www.mkfoodbank.org.uk. (Reg. Charity 1084287).
