Coaster run GB

Over the summer an extraordinary event has been taking place. Starting at Blackpool Tower, this event has linked hundreds of people together in a single cause - to get a little wooden baton named Barry around the coast of Great Britain. Barry arrived back in Blackpool where the journey began arriving on 23rd October, my birthday. I am proud to have done my small bit in this inspiring event, well done to all who took part but a massive congratulations to the organisers.
Barry started life as a chunk of Old English Oak in deepest Lancashire and his life found purpose as the rather wacky idea was put forward to a running forum in December 2009. Barry was born as the idea became a reality and the little wooden fellow was launched from the Tower to start his epic journey. In just five months, purely over the internet, a group of people who had largely never met, had organised themselves enough to start getting Barry ‘round our wonderful coast. To date, he has covered well over 4,000 miles, being passed palm to palm, from the big starting post of Blackpool Tower, North into the craggy crevices of Scotland, down the whole East coast and across the very base of Blighty and up into Wales. In the process, hundreds have developed a special relationship with each other and with Barry. All felt a need to look after and nurture this little wooden wonder. Tears have even been shed as Barry left for the next leg of his journey. Some found themselves volunteering for future legs, simply to meet him again. Many, very together people found themselves talking to the little bit of woodwork. The apparent charisma of Barry has made the huge task of organising strangers into doing a relay around the coast of Great Britain, not only possible, but enjoyable and unforgettable.

No elite, in any boardroom, nor big financial backing could have made a coastal relay like CoastersGB such a success in such short time. Only a spirit of pulling together reminiscent of the blitz years in the name of getting a cute little baton ‘round the coast can do that, it seems. Technology has also played a role beyond getting strangers to talk to each other. From our website www.coastersgb.co.uk Barry’s whereabouts can be tracked and pictures of each leg of his journey found.