It’s February, and already SplashMaps has twice committed to Sponsoring 2014 events.

This week we announce our Sponsorship of the John Austin Half Marathon in the New Forest.  The event is a terrific cross country route setting out from Brockenhurst and visiting forest, open heathland and even an abandoned aerodrome.

It’s the second year running we’ve supported this worthy event as it raises money (£13 000 last year) toward the OakhavenHospice where John Austin himself spent his last days.

SplashMaps replace Gold medals at John Austin Half Marathon

Last year the fastest Man and the fastest Woman in The Forest were presented with our New Forest Map (one of only two maps we produced at the time).  This year they get vouchers to allow them to choose exactly where the map should be and give it a beautiful title using our Make-a-Map service.

Of course, like last year, I will be taking part.  Please look out for me!  I’ll be one of the people wearing a map ;-).  My practice today (loving my Karrimor running shoes – superb in these boggy, slippy, claggy and tree stewn forest trails) proved I can do the distance.  So it’s 2 weeks of Fartlek training for me to imporve on time on my usual 4 mile course.

Good luck to Rob Dewing and the rest of the organising committee!  Terrific job last year.  I’m going for a record this year!

Oh, and the other Sponsorship is of the GeoMob, as announced earlier in the year.  The next Sponsorships?  Watch this space and feel free to propose!