“ The Rotary Club of Leighton Linslade are delighted that within current
government guidelines we have been able to join with partners and pull
together a informal Rotary Community Corps to recognise the 75th
Anniversary of VJ Day and the end of WW2

The event will take the form of a Marathon Relay which will visit most areas of
Leighton Linslade and Heath & Reach, with the runners or walkers carrying a
scroll containing the names of those from the area who made the ultimate
sacrifice.

The relay will leave a town centre location in Leighton Buzzard after the playing
of the Last Post at 11am and finish at the War Memorial at 8pm with their
names being read and the playing of Sunset at 20:08.

Each relay leg will be 2,194 yards acknowledging across time the 2,194 days
that WW2 lasted with participants visiting a number of notable local sites,
such as the site of RAF Stanbridge and Oxenden House the HQ of WW2 Radar
operations.

Whilst members of the public are urged not to congregate in large groups and
to observe social distancing we are encouraging people to come to their door
or garden to give the participants a wave as they go past. Routes are included
with this press release.

Opportunities to donate to Rotary and its local partner charities will be
available via virginmoneygiving.com and the support vehicle accompanying
VJ DAY 75 th Anniversary  Rotary Marathon – 15 th August

the runners and it is hoped key points including the town centre will have a
presence all day to raise awareness and help facilitate donations as well, which
will all be going to charities operating in Leighton Linslade
We are very conscious that we are living through unprecedented times so we
hope our community will understand that arrangements will be subject to
change, possibly at the last minute and that we will be continually monitoring
government advice.

Simon Marshall President of Leighton Linslade Rotary Club said
“ With so many of our community events in 2020 being cancelled due to Covid
19 and having lost the VE Day celebrations, Rotary had been looking to do
something that would allow our community to recognise the huge sacrifice of
the WW2 generation. We are therefore delighted that after significant
consultation and using our experiences with Santa we have been able to
work with partners to deliver a “Marathon for Peace”. What better way to
honour those who endured the marathon of WW2 than to run and walk the
traditional 26.2 miles and maybe a bit more and then to read their names at
the playing of Sunset. So many local lives will have been touched when the 5 th
Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment were taken prisoner at
Singapore in 1942 that VJ Day has a special resonance in our area.

However I am sure that generation would also have wanted us to look
forward peacefully and with hope and all the charities participating will as
the Covid restrictions lift be out there working in Leighton Linslade as they
have before, making our community a even better place.

So if you can, please either donate on the day or via the
virginmoneygiving.com page and support the local charities taking part.

Participants include in no particular order
Rotary,SSAFA,Dogs for Good, ATC, Friends Within( Mencap)
Naval Cadet Corps Yes We Can, Scouts,Guides, MK Dons SET, Town Mayors
Charities,LB Hockey, MS Society, OMM.