The Community Games Relay reached the halfway mark of its 70-day journey across the country on Saturday, inspiring thousands of people to unite in the spirit of London 2012. 

 The Relay is part of Community Games, a programme born out of the Olympic and Paralympic Games which encourages friends, families and communities to come together through the medium of sport and cultural activities. 

Funded by the Social Action Fund, Community Games is being delivered by the YMCA and the County Sports Partnership Network.

Mirroring the route the Olympic Torch Relay took last year, the Community Games Relay has so far placed a spotlight on 35 regions in England.

Daily events have ranged from people running 80 miles in a day, right through to treasure hunts and hundreds hopping across a bridge on space hoppers.

The Community Games Relay celebrates the work of its 36,000 volunteers from across the country who have generously given their time to organise the programme’s 1,000 plus events.

Each day a volunteer is selected as a ‘Shining Light’ in their community and presented a jersey for the role they have each played in helping to create a legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

One of the shining lights includes pensioner Amanda Wilkins who was a Games Maker at last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 68-year-old from Newhaven in Sussex felt a void in her life after the Olympics and wanted to continue to inspire others to be passionate about sport, like she says the nation was during London 2012. She is being honoured for the role she has played in the programme in helping to organise a Community Games event in the style of an old-fashioned sports day for older people.

On the last day of the Community Games Relay, day 70, Amanda along with all of the other 70 shining lights will come together for a special celebration at the opening of the Copper Box at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Community Games’ Programme Manager, Nikki Enoch, said:

“We are delighted to reach the half way milestone of the Community Games Relay.

We have been overwhelmed by the success of the Relay in communities all over the country and it is clear to see that a legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games has been created through Community Games.

The Relay has given us an opportunity to celebrate the amazing people who go the extra mile for their communities – our Shining Lights.

We look forward to inspiring even more people to become active and take part in cultural activities with friends, families and communities.” 

To find out more information about Community Games or to find out what’s happening on the remaining 35 days of the Community Games Relay then please log on to www.communitygames.org.uk