The Moira Fund was set up in memory of Moira Jones, who was murdered in Queen's Park in 2008
Moira’s Run, the annual 5k charity run which raises vital money for The Moira Fund, raised over £10,000 at this year’s event in Glasgow’s Queen’s Park.
Over 450 people took part in the event, either by running, walking or participating remotely from other parts of the world.
The Moira Fund was set up in memory of Moira Jones, who was murdered in Queen's Park in 2008.
Since 2009, the charity estimates it has helped more than 4,800 people cope with the violent loss of a loved one by supplying grants.
Grants from the charity can contribute to funeral and counselling costs, respite breaks and necessary house moves and other, often desperate, needs.
Moira’s Run is organised by every year by the Moira Fund and is coordinated by volunteers assisted by sponsors.
Victim Support Scotland (VSS) is now the main sponsor of the event for the second year running, having worked closely with The Moira Fund for many years. Victim Support Scotland is the foremost charity providing emotional, practical and financial support to victims of crime throughout Scotland.
VSS’s Support for Families Bereaved by Crime (SFBC) service was set up in 2019 largely thanks to campaigning by the Moira Fund who felt bereaved families in Scotland deserved a specialist service like the one in England and Wales.
The SFBC team provides families bereaved by crime with the support of a dedicated key worker who provides practical and emotional support to families whose loved one has been killed. The support is wide ranging, from helping to arrange the funeral, as well as navigating the criminal justice system and connecting family members to other specialised services where required.
Bea Jones, mother of Moira Jones and founder of The Moira Fund, said: "As always, Moira's Run was our event of the year, with amazing support from the 454 runners and walkers who took part all drawn from the Queen's Park community, the south side, and all parts of Scotland as well as those running virtually within the UK and far beyond, even Canada, Australia and California.
“Every penny of the wonderful £10,000 plus money raised will be spent helping the many, many traumatically bereaved, desperate families referred to us by a range of organisations including Victim Support Scotland, the main sponsor of Moira's Run. And that is what Moira's charity is all about - we want to give a helping hand, make a wee difference."
Kate Wallace, Chief Executive of Victim Support Scotland, added: “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with The Moira Fund and it is our privilege to continue to sponsor Moira’s Run for the second year. The creation of our Support for Families Bereaved by Crime service back in 2019 wouldn’t have been possible without Bea and the rest of the team, and it has been instrumental in providing the first service of its kind for families who has lost a loved one to violent crime in Scotland.
“What a phenomenal legacy The Moira Fund have created for Moira, helping these families during the darkest time in their lives. We are grateful to everyone who walked, ran, volunteered or donated to help support the amazing work that The Moira Fund and our SFBC team carry out every day.”
