Fun runners (and walkers) from all over Croydon gathered on North End last Sunday to take part in a fun run to Ashburton Park in Addiscombe. The Oasis Trust has been raising funds to found a new youth centre in Ashburton Park in honour of Zaian Amiable-Lina who was tragically killed in the park in a knife attack last December. Oasis hope to purchase an old council building in Ashburton Park to develop into a youth centre.

The CRO went to Ashburton Park to see all the participants arrive (and put a few pounds in the collection box). Speaking after completing the run himself Oasis Trust Chief Executive Rev. Steve Chalke said ‘I am delighted at today’s turnout and our collectors tell me that there is a lot of money going into the collection. We very much want to set up this youth centre in Ashburton Lodge in the park itself, so any help that readers of the CRO can give would be very much appreciated. (see link to Oasis UK’s fundraising page for the Zaian Centre below).

The CRO had a chance to speak with former Mayor Councillor Stuart Collins who was lending his support to the occasion and had completed the run himself. ‘It’s such a great turnout and fantastic to see everybody here this morning. I have even had a chance to catch up with their new cabinet member for culture Councillor Andy Stranack and we have had a good chat about how we can support this great appeal and also about plans for next year’s London Borough of Culture in Croydon’.

Asked how he did in the fun run Stuart Collins said ‘I ran the whole thing, 18 minutes from North End to Ashburton Park – not bad for 61’.