Latest / The PCR Sports Show / The PCR Sports Show - Friday 17th April 2026 - with Jake Burton founder of Runs4Research

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The PCR Sports Show - Friday 17th April 2026 - with Jake Burton founder of Runs4Research · The PCR Sports Show

0:16
Welcome. To PCR Sports.
0:18
Good evening and welcome to the PCR Sports Show here on PCR FM
0:23
Thank you for joining us once again on this Friday evening.
0:26
We're here for the next hour, bringing you all the latest from
0:29
the sporting scene from our city of Peterborough and the
0:32
surrounding areas. Tonight is no different.
0:35
We are talking to Jake Burton, the driving force behind Runs
0:40
for Research, the cricket community movement raising
0:43
thousands of pounds for Alzheimer's Research UK.
0:47
From village grounds to national headline.
0:48
Since Jakes turned a simple idea into a powerful campaign, that's
0:52
United players, clubs and supporters across not just the
0:56
UK but further abroad as well. We'll hear how it all started,
1:00
the stories behind the fundraising and what's next as
1:03
Runs for Research heads into another big year.
1:07
But first, as always on the PCR Sports Show, let's cover off
1:11
your local sporting headlines this week.
1:13
Brought to you by DIPAM. Good evening all and here are
1:17
your headlines on PCR sports this evening, starting with
1:20
football. Peter United Women have made
1:22
history by securing promotion to the National League.
1:25
A dominant 5 nil victory away at Kid Minister Harriers confirmed
1:28
the Midlands Division One title. Neve Connor scored twice with
1:32
further goals from Neve Reynolds, Keir Perkins and Anna
1:35
Pitt which completed an emphatic win.
1:38
The victory extends Posh Women's unbeaten run to 20 matches with
1:42
two fixtures remaining, starting away at Sheffield FC this Sunday
1:46
before finishing the season at Pyms Park against Stourbridge.
1:50
Peter and I did on the men's side are in the middle of a
1:52
demanding run of three games in nine days.
1:54
Posh began the week with a three one defeat away at Blackpool
1:57
where Brandon Kayler had briefly levelled the scores in the first
2:01
half. Then they then suffered the same
2:03
scoreline at home to Port Vale at the Western Home Stadium with
2:07
James Dornelli pulling back a goal after 2 early strikes from
2:10
the visitors. But it wasn't enough as Vale
2:12
added a third on the hour mark. Attention now turns to Sunday
2:15
when Burton Albion visit P2 for a 1:00 PM kick off.
2:19
Peterborough Sports FC were narrowly beaten 3 two at home by
2:23
Telford United on Saturday. Kane Felix and Max Booth were on
2:27
target for the sport but it wasn't enough to prevent an
2:30
already relegated Turbines who now turn their attention to
2:33
tomorrow's trip to Worksop Town. Peterborough Phantoms have
2:37
brought their season to a close after back-to-back defeats
2:40
against Swindon Wildcats. The Phantoms were edged out two,
2:43
one in Swindon on Saturday before a four one loss at Planet
2:46
Ice Peterborough, on in Black Eyes in Peterborough on Sunday.
2:49
With the playoff hops already over, the result confirms the
2:52
end of the campaign for the City side and attention now turns to
2:55
regrouping ahead of next season. In cricket ound or Town Cricket
3:01
Club are celebrating 200 years of cricketing history.
3:04
From humble beginnings to on a racecourse near Stamford in
3:06
1826, the club has grown into a well established and respected
3:10
side within the regional game today and will compete in the
3:13
North Hands Premier Division alongside Peterborough Town
3:15
Cricket Club, highlighting their rise through the ranks.
3:18
Club has also built a strong reputation for developing and
3:21
attracting high quality players, including those with
3:24
international experience. The milestone marks a proud
3:26
moment in the club's history and it's ongoing contribution to
3:30
local cricket in Speedway. Peterborough Panthers have named
3:33
their lineup for this month's Spring Triangle meeting at
3:36
Mildenhall. The Panthers return to action on
3:39
Saturday the 25th of April, taking on Milden Mildenhall,
3:42
Fenn Tigers and Rye House Rockets.
3:44
A successful trip to West Row last year saw the Panthers lift
3:49
the Simon Barton Memorial Trophy in front of a fantastic crowd
3:53
and the club will be hoping to deliver another exciting meeting
3:56
for supporters. Paul Stark will captain aside
3:58
once again, joined by Aaron Butcher and Luke Harris
4:01
alongside several new faces. 15 year old Seth Norman is set to
4:05
make his debut, while former Panthers mascot Mickey Simpson
4:09
and ex Fenn Tiger Jack Kingston are also included in the team.
4:13
The club continues to is pushed to keep Speedway alive in the
4:16
city and the fans are being encouraged to turn out in
4:18
numbers in BMX. Peter BMX Club celebrated a
4:23
strong showing a tough National Series event in Manchester,
4:26
securing 6 podium finishes. Riders from the city club
4:29
impressed against top level competition from across the
4:31
country and at the opening rounds of the British Cycling
4:35
BMX National Series. Amongst the highlights were a
4:38
standout performance from one ride who claimed their first
4:40
ever national podium. Underlying the club's growing
4:43
strength on the national stage, the event at the National
4:46
Cycling Centre attracted hundreds of competitors, making
4:49
the six podium finishes an excellent achievement for the
4:51
Peterborough based team. In athletics.
4:54
A strong turn out of local athletes, athletes turned from
4:57
turned impressive performances across a series of major races
5:00
from Peterborough to Paris. Leading the way was Louis de
5:03
Grizzly of Peterborough and Neen Valley Athletics Club who
5:06
produced a standout run to underline his growing reputation
5:09
on the road racing circuit. He was joined by a host of club
5:12
mates competing at events across the UK and Europe, with several
5:16
strong finishes highlighting the depth of talent within the club.
5:20
And finally, martial Arts, a small but talented Peterborough
5:23
Martial Arts team enjoyed a big success at the national event in
5:26
Gloucester. Fighters from the Hicks Martial
5:28
Arts delivered impressive medal hauled with Ravi and Oliver
5:32
leading the way, both striking gold.
5:34
Despite taking a similar smaller squad, the team produced a
5:37
serious stand up performances against strong opposition
5:40
underlying their growing reputation on the competitive
5:43
circuit. And those are your headlines.
5:45
Back to you, Nourish. Brilliant.
5:47
Thank you very much. Plenty going on as we come to
5:50
the end of what you could say sort of the winter sport and as
5:54
we go into the summer sports now, cricket.
5:56
Very much on our minds. Yeah, exactly.
5:58
Obviously and of Town going into celebrating 200 years, obviously
6:02
rivals to Peterborough Town who we had on the show last week.
6:05
So there was some confidence sort of talk and and sort of
6:09
ambitious talk from Dave Taylor and Tim over last week in terms
6:12
of what the club want to do and that's going to be a good
6:15
season. I think they look forward to
6:16
this year. Yeah, brilliant stuff, right?
6:18
Tonight on the show we've got Jake Burton with us.
6:22
He's the man behind Runs for Research and we're going to
6:25
continue with the cricketing theme from.
6:27
Last week's show as well how he's used his passion for
6:30
cricket to pay tribute to his belivered grandfather Trevor
6:34
Burton. And we'll be hearing all.
6:36
About the initiative runs for research very shortly after
6:39
these messages. You're listening to PCR sports.
6:54
Good evening. Welcome back to the PCR Sports
6:56
Show here on PCR FM. Thank you once again for joining
7:00
us. We're talking all things cricket
7:03
once again this week. Last week we were talking to
7:06
Peterborough Town Cricket Club on the eve of a new season for
7:09
them, and tonight the cricket is the theme, but this time
7:13
involving some fundraising and Alzheimer's Research UK, who are
7:17
very much the beneficiaries of a initiative set up by Jake
7:22
Burton. And Jake joins us in the studio
7:24
once again for his third appearance on the show.
7:27
Yeah. Thanks, Les.
7:28
Thanks for having me again. Yeah, not a problem.
7:30
Welcome back. Where should we start?
7:33
I mean, 2025, what a great year it was.
7:36
We'll come on to how it all started very shortly.
7:39
But winter. Is it a quiet time for rental
7:43
research or is it? Still plenty of background work.
7:47
It's certainly quieter than the summer is.
7:50
I think it's more just engaging with the the players trying to
7:53
fill content across our social media platforms really to to try
7:57
and prepare ourselves for another season which is which is
7:59
soon to be upon. Yeah, indeed.
8:01
And no, preseason friendlies have certainly started, haven't
8:03
they? And the league matches start for
8:05
various clubs over the course of this week and next.
8:07
Exactly. We've had a couple of weeks of
8:09
friendlies with with limited action, but I think the main
8:12
action really kicks off tomorrow and over the next couple of
8:14
weeks leading to the start of May.
8:16
Yeah, let's hope the weather plays bull, shall we?
8:17
That's always a problem with cricket, isn't it?
8:19
It is definitely. And a warm summer would
8:22
certainly be a productive one for runs for research as well.
8:25
It certainly would. The more runs, the more cricket
8:27
that's played, the more runs we can score, the more wickets
8:29
people can take, the more donations they can make to our
8:31
cause. Perfect.
8:34
Where did it all start then? You know this is going to be a
8:36
sixth season, but. Yeah, wedded friends for
8:39
research. So in 2021 or actually in 2020,
8:44
I lost my granddad Trevor Burton.
8:47
He was an avid cricket fan and we wanted to it trying to
8:53
trigger something with me to, to want to raise some money for
8:55
Alzheimer's Research really. He did suffer with dementia a
8:57
little bit at the end of his life.
9:00
So we've we've seen countless attempts from people doing
9:03
marathons. We've got London Marathon, we'll
9:04
see next weekend, lots of things like that, but we wanted to do
9:08
something a bit different. So I'd add this, this concept,
9:10
this runs for research concept where players like myself, like
9:15
Nilesh could, could commit to A5P per run, 50P per wicket at
9:20
the end of their cricket season with them making a donation at
9:24
the end of their season to, to an Alzheimer's Research UK.
9:27
Just giving Page kind of with the hope that that we could kind
9:30
of honour his legacy really to, to, to raise some crucial funds
9:33
for, for such a cause and. What a legacy it's been so far
9:38
into the sixth season and over £67,000 raised so far.
9:43
It's, it's remarkable when I, when I hear other people say
9:45
that really, I can see it on spreadsheets and and on
9:48
databases, but, but hearing other people say, I just have to
9:51
kind of pinch myself sometimes to just think that something as
9:54
simple as an idea that we had, what I had in in 2020, 2021 has
10:00
has come to 67,000 LB race for charity.
10:02
It's yeah, it's mind blowing really.
10:05
A proud moment. It's it's one where I do have to
10:10
to to kind of accept a lot of praise from people that
10:13
constantly saying how well you've done and I just think.
10:16
And if I'm fair in saying that it's not your natural trait to
10:18
receive that precisely, precisely.
10:20
Yeah, I kind of tried to keep myself to myself.
10:24
But I think I'll have to, to kind of consider the bigger
10:26
picture and go that actually I've initiated it, but it's the
10:30
the thousands of players across the UK and and further afield
10:33
that have that have helped generate the £67,000 more than
10:36
anything really. Yeah, and it all started at Long
10:39
Sutton Cricket Club. It did.
10:40
It did through through a few friends kind of giving me the
10:44
the reassurance that this was an idea really and that that it
10:47
wasn't something that that they would just support me on.
10:49
And that it was something that yes, they would support.
10:51
But it would have kind of wider implications that people wider
10:55
field across the county, across the region and and hopefully
10:58
nationally would get behind and ultimately support to support
11:01
the course. But but without their initial
11:03
reassurance, I don't think we'd be here where we are today.
11:06
Yeah, I suppose it was nervous setting out on this, on this
11:09
road that you've been on. Now to see what backing you
11:13
would get. Exactly, exactly.
11:14
I think it's one of those where I to keep the, the inner circle
11:17
of people that knew what was going on kind of quite low to
11:20
start with, because I think that the more people that you take
11:23
your opinions from, the, the more variation you get of them.
11:26
I'm not sure. Yes, no, but but the five of
11:28
them were very keen to go, yeah, this is a good idea.
11:31
Let's go for it. Let's see how we get, if it
11:33
lasts a year and we raise amount of money for Alzheimer's
11:36
Research, we've still achieved what we wanted to achieve.
11:39
But ultimately it's it's grown way beyond that.
11:43
And how it has developed as well.
11:46
Where are we? Over 2000 players have taken
11:49
part. Yeah, across, across six
11:50
seasons, we've had, yeah, more than 2000 different cricketers
11:53
across the UK. Some have have been with us for
11:55
a season, some have been with us for all six.
11:58
And and that's six, all six years.
12:01
They're, they're not just players that, that I know,
12:03
they're players from all corners of the country that that have
12:06
taken a like into the course that we've created and, and
12:09
continues to support it year on year.
12:10
And actually, those are the ones that are more satisfying.
12:13
Really. These people I've never met and
12:14
may never meet, but they've supported something that I've
12:17
created and that that kind of gives you an immense sense of
12:20
pleasure. Yeah.
12:21
And from Alzheimer's Research UK's perspective, your previous
12:25
appearance on the show, we had a fundraiser join us and they were
12:29
able to tell us, you know, the the impact of those donations
12:33
that have been made. But you must.
12:36
He must have been in awe of the work that they do.
12:39
Yeah. What you've been able to
12:41
contribute? I was fortunate last June to to
12:43
get to go to a research facility in Addenbrooke's and to to kind
12:49
of hear people that are obviously a lot more intelligent
12:52
than I am and are fighting this cause on the frontline.
12:55
In reality, they are trying to actively develop things to, to,
13:00
to make this a thing of the past.
13:02
And when you know that, that the 67,000 we've raised is, is
13:05
directly funding those sort of initiatives where they sit there
13:08
and they, they say this is the way we're going to tackle it.
13:11
And that makes perfect sense. And they just need the funding.
13:14
They just need the resources. They just need time to a certain
13:17
extent. That's that's amazing to to
13:20
think about. £67,000 raised so far.
13:24
Without getting too carried away as we on the eve of the new
13:27
cricket season, are you going to put a little target on up
13:31
against this seal? I think I want to get to 80.
13:35
I think 80 is very, very achievable with with our
13:37
previous kind of two or three-year kind of targets.
13:42
Again, we, we, we don't take anything for granted, but I
13:46
think 80,000 is another number that that that kind of sits
13:49
there in the in the distance to, to get to.
13:51
Yeah. In terms of the mechanism then,
13:55
5P per run, 50 per wicket. You were saying just off air
14:00
before the show started this evening, about two or three of
14:03
the bits that you've added in to make it a little bit more
14:05
accessible for for juniors to take part as well potentially.
14:08
So obviously 5 PA run, 50 PA wicket is great if you're
14:12
participating in the game kind of actively to a certain extent,
14:16
you've got to be a bowler or batter or in some instances all
14:18
rounders. Again, kind of two bites at the
14:20
cherry to a certain extent. But in in 2026, we've introduced
14:25
fielding dismissals, wiki keeping dismissals AT50P per run
14:29
on the basis that that is a a wicket to a certain extent.
14:32
And we feel that kind of does make it a little bit more
14:34
accessible for for junior players that are that are just
14:36
making kind of their inroads into the game.
14:38
Maybe they're batting 11. Maybe they're just out there
14:41
fielding and and supporting their their club really and and
14:44
learning the game to a certain extent.
14:46
And then another one that we're really proud to support is the
14:48
not outs. So if you don't get out of the
14:51
end of your innings, that's for a partnership with, with a guy
14:53
that we met down in in Salisbury that that runs a mental health
14:56
charity in in a similar style to us.
14:59
He's he's supporting kind of it's an initiative more than it
15:03
is a charity. But his is called not out mental
15:05
health. So we can't afford why don't we
15:07
have a a combination? The funds are still coming to
15:09
Alzheimer's Research, but but kind of it, it adds a different
15:12
scope to to players. Some people probably won't kind
15:16
of enjoy the fact that we're adding more and more metrics
15:18
because it increases their donations.
15:20
But but the wiki keep in the field and the knockouts are all
15:22
optional, optional add-ons for people just to to kind of add a
15:25
bit more interest really. Yeah, wow, wow, wow, wow.
15:30
Support from Long Sutton, still very much there.
15:33
The club itself, Yeah, Backing you.
15:35
I think actually and, and people kind of get a bit confused when
15:38
I say this, but actually the the club supporting is great, but
15:41
actually I want them to support in the same way as any other
15:43
club would. I want them to spread the word
15:45
amongst players. I want them to get as many
15:46
players involved. Obviously a chunk of the players
15:48
that are involved at my club are friends so they're supporting
15:51
me, but actually I would much rather have 10 players from a
15:55
random club around the UK than I would from my own club, because
15:58
they will, the players are certain probably would support
16:00
me anyway, whereas this is something extra.
16:03
I was looking through your socials this week.
16:05
Instagram and X runs for research is the handle and I
16:11
think you put a. Spreadsheet up of every player
16:13
that's taking part. That was just mind blowing in
16:16
itself in terms of seeing all those names.
16:20
Just the the hard reality of those people that have supported
16:24
runs for research and conversely Alexander's research.
16:27
UK we, we found that actually those posts are really heavily
16:30
interacted with because people want to see their name.
16:34
It kind of gives them assurances that they are involved in the
16:36
course and that they can share about it.
16:38
It gives everybody else an assurance that this player is
16:41
involved. If they're involved, why can't I
16:43
be or why shouldn't I be to a certain extent?
16:46
And it's a really good thing to be able to get them to say tag
16:49
the person that isn't involved, that should be involved.
16:52
It's a, it's a really easy social media tool to get it.
16:55
But it we found out those have worked really, really well to to
16:57
kind of, yeah, spread the word and and show who is involved.
17:01
In terms of the clubs locally that are taking part or players
17:04
from those clubs, you've had some great support from Autumn
17:06
Park, certainly within the city to name to name a few.
17:10
More Autumn Park and Whitwissy Burley Park have have been big
17:14
supporters kind of really since year one and yeah, Peterborough
17:21
town to to a certain extent through Chris.
17:24
That's Chris Milner, Yeah. Chris Milner of kites that
17:26
that's obviously been involved in our branding from from
17:28
literally day one. But but yeah, most clubs in the
17:32
area have all have supported as at some point, which which is
17:37
great to to think and and it's great to be able to turn up on a
17:39
Saturday and, and even myself, if I'm not playing, have a
17:42
wander around local grounds and see players that are supporting
17:44
our 'cause really. You love that, don't you?
17:46
I've seen, I've seen you turn up to a few games just to have a
17:49
wander round and there might be a player that's supporting you
17:52
within that game or not, but it's just that love of the game.
17:54
It's a. Perfect combination of somebody
17:55
that is a bit of a cricket badger ultimately wouldn't be
17:57
where we are without it, but it allows me to to get around, see
18:01
some grounds and also meet some people that that are involved.
18:04
And I guess it's spreading that messages as well, isn't it?
18:05
You're actually, you know, you're marketing the opportunity
18:09
as well into clubs. Go and speak to them.
18:11
They might then have a conversation off the back of it.
18:13
Who was that guy you were talking to?
18:14
Oh, that's, that's Jake from Run to research.
18:16
Oh, what's run to research? They've got somebody that's
18:18
that's engaging with the content.
18:19
Again, it's that catalyst, isn't it?
18:20
To have that conversation early, early 6 this week.
18:25
That's quite a a major date in the local cricketing calendar in
18:29
terms of the the event that they put on all the way through
18:32
Monday through to Friday first week in July, but you've got one
18:36
of the prestigious day games there.
18:37
Yeah. So this will be our third year
18:40
taking on the Wednesday day fixture, which again is a is a
18:43
real prestigious thing to be part of.
18:46
And we put out a run for Research 11 and and play against
18:48
the the host club again, a club that have supported us a lot.
18:53
So therefore we quite often have players in both sides that are
18:55
supporting the course and it's just a really good opportunity
18:58
to bring people together. Obviously barely being
19:00
prestigious in the way it is. It's a day game, it's timed,
19:04
it's sit down. Proper lunches.
19:06
Proper lunch. It's quite a unique experience
19:08
that some of the players that around the country or even in
19:10
the local area have never really experienced.
19:13
So yeah, it's a really good, it's a really good day that then
19:15
becomes a really good evening and and people kind of then want
19:18
to come back. Every year you must have quite a
19:20
job selecting year 11. It's, it's certainly been a
19:22
challenge. I think this week I've been
19:24
narrowing down our, our kind of initial list of people that were
19:27
interested down to an to an 11 as we sit here at the moment.
19:31
But it's always a challenge having to to kind of get people
19:34
to want to play to the games. But we don't have that problem
19:37
with the Burley. Game, no.
19:37
Especially we're taking time off work, potentially injuries or
19:40
the commitments that come up during the course of the season
19:43
as it starts these people. Are are happy to do so when it
19:46
is that sort of game because they know it is quite
19:48
prestigious. Yeah, and you've been playing
19:50
matches around the country as well against the clubs.
19:52
Yeah, so we played 4 fixtures in in 2025 and we've got 5
19:56
scheduled for for 2026. Burley appeared in both.
20:00
And actually, we're going to four new venues alongside Burley
20:03
this year. Again, clubs that have supported
20:06
us but actually getting far and wide.
20:09
We're going up as far as Peterlee, which is just South of
20:12
Newcastle. Pray for the weather.
20:15
Very much so, very much so. We're heading down to Sway,
20:19
which is in the the New Forest, and then we are heading to
20:24
Ivanhoe and Pittstone, which is just north of London.
20:26
And they've been a club that has supported us for a number of
20:28
years with good numbers. And then we're also playing in a
20:31
2020 game actually in London against the content creators CC
20:36
as well, which is something a bit different, something a bit
20:38
different to to kind of get us to meet with some different
20:41
people. And we'll come on to this, we
20:43
can take a break very shortly, but we'll come on to it in terms
20:46
of going to those different venues helps you spread the word
20:49
about runs for research and more importantly about Alzheimer's
20:51
Research UK as well. So we'll take a few messages
20:54
here and. We'll get Jake to talk a little
20:56
bit more about those games after this break.
21:09
You're listening to PCR sports. Welcome back.
21:18
Yes, you are listening to the PCR Sports Show here on PCR FM.
21:22
We're here every Friday between 6:00 and 7:00 bringing you the
21:25
latest from the sporting scene from our city of Peterborough
21:29
and the surrounding areas. We've covered off the local
21:32
headlines and our main guest this evening is Jake Burton,
21:35
founder of Runs for Research and he is the driving force behind
21:41
the initiative Cricket Initiative and it's a movement
21:44
raising thousands of pounds for Alzheimer's Research UK and to
21:48
date has raised over £67,000. As we are on the eve of the 6th
21:54
cricketing season, we're hearing all about how it started, the
21:58
stories behind the fundraising and especially what's next as we
22:02
head into the new cricket season itself.
22:06
Just before the break we were talking to Jake about the
22:08
matches that Runs for Research now plays across the country and
22:14
it's quite a select 11 that gets to take part.
22:17
Yeah, very much so. I think it's always a challenge
22:20
because people are giving up their time to play in reality
22:24
and often it's on a Sunday where if they they commit to playing
22:26
on Saturday, Sundays is an extra day away that they probably
22:29
weren't planning to. But the majority that that are
22:31
keen want to keep coming back each year and and representing
22:34
the cause wherever we are in the country really.
22:36
But it is it can be a challenge to to kind of get 11 out every
22:40
every time we play, but but kind of get as many people involved
22:43
as. Well, yeah.
22:44
Do you play still? I know you've were talking
22:46
about, again just earlier in the show about, you know, going to
22:48
grounds, taking in different games, meeting different people,
22:51
but. It's a little bit of an appetite
22:53
still to play occasionally. Yeah, for those games, there
22:55
will always be an appetite to play.
22:57
I think the majority of people when I've broached the idea of
22:59
actually, if we're struggling for to reduce numbers from down
23:02
to 11, that I'll sit out and they say, well, actually, you
23:05
know, you're the driving force you need.
23:06
You need to be there at minimum on the day.
23:08
If you don't want to play, that's fine, but actually that
23:11
just makes my job a little bit harder trying to find 11, at
23:15
least if I'm playing myself, I've only got to find 10.
23:17
Yeah, but yeah, I will continue to play in those games because I
23:20
want to get out and meet people and.
23:22
And yeah, and still support the 'cause I suppose.
23:24
Through my own performances, yeah, definitely you did.
23:29
Still play occasionally for Long Sutton.
23:32
I'm not going to play for the next couple of weeks, but I
23:34
suspect I will get some point during the season, maybe in the
23:38
next 3 or 4 weeks depending on how things are going.
23:41
Still got the appetite then? Yeah, there's a, there's a
23:43
little bit of an appetite there, but, but as we said before the
23:46
break, I think I do like getting out and and watching ground
23:49
different games at different grounds and and meeting
23:51
different people actually. That gives me as much enjoyment
23:53
now as as probably playing this so.
23:55
Building those relationships, Yeah, exactly.
23:58
And marketing runs for research. Exactly, exactly.
24:00
We can go out there and, and talk to players that are
24:02
involved and, and they can ask who's that, that person you were
24:04
speaking to? Well, that's Jake who runs for
24:06
research. What's runs for research?
24:07
Then we've got an engagement. And I think that's important as
24:09
well, that, you know, you're spending time where your
24:13
supporters are effectively playing the games as well, isn't
24:16
it, you know, to show them this from the organization.
24:19
Exactly that I can't, I can't go around and see every player
24:22
across the season. But if I can cover off 3 or 4
24:25
grounds in a weekend or, or grow a little bit further afield and,
24:27
and spend a bit of time on the ground that's supported us for a
24:30
few years, then I'm more than happy to do that.
24:33
So, yeah, that's, that's kind of the main aim for, for 2026
24:38
because then I can get to it because they're, they're of
24:40
course we, we've only got 5 fixtures in 2026, but there were
24:44
a number of grounds that we've kind of been to in previous
24:47
years that actually would quite like to have supported us again.
24:50
But actually we've moved it. So you feel a little bit of an
24:52
obligation to kind of go down and see them and, and, and catch
24:55
up with them in person as well if they're, if they're not going
24:57
to be playing and is. That the idea, I suppose that
24:59
model, just trying to build on it sustainably over the next two
25:03
3-4 years in terms of different venues for the games, which
25:07
spreads the word effectively. I think when people said, I
25:11
think I probably sat here in this chair and said that I
25:13
wouldn't do more than four and I'm sat here with five.
25:17
But I think we've got a couple of quite unique ones.
25:19
Burley obviously stays on the calendar because of the, the
25:22
prestige of it. The the 2020 game against the
25:25
content creators is, is kind of very, very unique.
25:28
So actually we've probably only got 3 kind of genuine games I
25:31
would say, and I think that's probably about as much as as
25:34
where we can go really. Yeah, and the content creators
25:36
game, I mean, what a great marketing piece that is again.
25:39
Yeah, very much so some. Of the they've got.
25:41
Some of the guys in in that side, guys and girls on that
25:43
side are, are close friends now through through this, I've been
25:46
kind of invited into their community because of the content
25:49
I'm producing through runs for research.
25:51
And hopefully then in return, they can kind of share our
25:54
content to their follow up bases across social media because it's
25:57
such a, a kind of a fruitful approach nowadays in in the
26:00
modern world we live in. Yeah, you're talking about not
26:03
being able to get across all the players, but you've certainly
26:07
got players playing abroad for you and supporting the 'cause as
26:09
well. Yeah, exactly.
26:11
I think we've, we've been very fortunate that that people want
26:13
to support. And at the end of the day
26:16
cricket is a, is a global game. We've got supporters that are
26:20
representing nations really they're playing in the UK and
26:23
then going further Aford representing Germany and Cyprus
26:27
and Serbia and the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Spain, kind
26:32
of the, the list is, is quite extensive.
26:34
But then also players in South Africa and Australia that are
26:37
that are playing their their regular Saturday cricket, just a
26:40
different time of year to us, but still wanting to support the
26:42
course. Yeah, so it's not just the
26:44
English cricketing season that we're playing here.
26:46
We're effectively looking all the way around the world and
26:48
this has become a, you know, a 12 month revolving campaign.
26:53
Yeah, very much so. I think we're we're still going
26:55
to be kind of mainly focused on the UK season but but we can be
26:58
adaptive of of overseas seasons, players playing at funny times
27:02
of the year, playing in February and November when we would never
27:04
be touching a cricket field in the UK.
27:06
Yeah, you don't get much. Of a break here, do you?
27:10
No, no, I think it's it, it, it does require to take a step back
27:14
at times, but actually when it is a passion project like it is
27:17
for me, it doesn't feel too much of A chore.
27:20
So I can, I'm happy to, to keep doing it. 12 months here.
27:23
In years to come, perhaps the game in Australia, South Africa.
27:27
If if, if a dream. That that would be 1 I'd
27:29
definitely pick myself for yeah, yeah.
27:32
But definitely, definitely, if the appetite was there then I'm
27:35
I'm sure we could we could do something in the future if we
27:38
can get the players involved. 100% We talked about the
27:41
mechanism earlier in the show, you know, a donation of five P
27:44
per run, 50P per wicket. But a lot of work has gone in
27:49
behind the scenes, hasn't it, over the years to get to this
27:52
point because it was very manual.
27:54
But I know the last time you're on the show, you very much, you
27:57
know, using the power of automation now as well.
27:59
Yeah, very much so. So yeah, years one and two were
28:02
very manual. It's kind of 6-7 hours per week
28:05
by me trawling through data to extract runs on wickets.
28:10
And at that stage there was a scalability issue.
28:13
If we wanted to grow the course anymore, that wasn't
28:16
sustainable. So therefore we did consult with
28:18
with automation companies through my own work as an
28:21
accountant. Unfortunately, they're built as
28:23
a program that that now means we are fully sustainable, we're
28:26
fully scalable. And actually providing that that
28:31
we do a little bit of data entry at the start to to kind of
28:33
extract the players. Everything kind of runs pretty
28:35
smoothly throughout the season on a weekly basis and and
28:38
players can see where their donation is kind of at any
28:41
point. Yeah, you've had some fabulous
28:43
support as well from people who've been with you from day,
28:46
day one, effectively to help you get that message out.
28:49
Branding the wristbands, you know, those elements played a
28:53
huge part in not just helping you raise that money, but raise
28:57
awareness of Alzheimer's Research UK.
28:58
Yeah, exactly. I think, I think from supporters
29:00
perspective, I think initially, so my own team mates, my
29:04
teammates, my friends, the family, when they when they
29:06
found out what we were trying to do, they were, they were massive
29:08
supporters. But actually on the commercial
29:10
side, I think three people will always want to shout out at this
29:13
stage, local businesses to the area.
29:15
So Chris Milner at Kite, literally a day one, because on
29:18
the very first day I've run for research, he designed our logo,
29:21
which we don't across all our merchandise.
29:23
Now later on in year 1, Mark Durham at Viper Cricket got
29:28
involved to be able to produce our bat stickers and provide
29:31
those. And I hate to think the amount
29:34
we've gone through over six seasons that have been
29:35
distributed far and wide, but then to be able to distribute
29:39
those we've needed the, the postage system.
29:42
Unfortunately, my own work we're, we're keen to support
29:44
from day one. And again, I'd like to think how
29:47
many envelopes I've sent out containing runs for research
29:49
over six years that they've all funded.
29:52
So without those 3 we we wouldn't be, or without those 3
29:55
plus the support of friends and family, I don't think we would
29:57
be here where we are today. Do you pinch yourself at times?
30:02
I think I have to, because some days I, I think you, some days
30:07
everybody, you kind of have us to put this you, you, you get to
30:12
the point where what, what contribution have I made?
30:16
If you're having a bad day, some days you just think, well,
30:18
actually, I've, I've raised that money and and that was a a
30:20
really proud moment for me. And I think that's a that is a
30:24
proper pinch yourself moment. Really it's.
30:28
Going to take a moment on that thought really, you know, in
30:31
terms of reflecting on what you've done and what's still to
30:34
come, you know, in the future. I think it's it's very much, I
30:38
think about the 67,000 and then I think about the doors that
30:41
that's open, the opportunities I've been given because of that.
30:45
I've got to go to 10 Downing St. I've got to come onto media
30:49
platforms like this, podcasts around the around the country,
30:54
just opportunities that probably wouldn't have arisen without
30:57
doing this. Obviously, that's not why you do
31:00
it. No, no, no.
31:01
And ultimately we, we want to the cause to be a supporter of
31:04
Alzheimer's Research. But actually for myself, that's
31:08
that's kind of, I suppose, an added benefit.
31:13
And fabulous for Alzheimer's Research UK as well.
31:16
Yeah, exactly, exactly. And and while I keep supporting
31:19
them and and they keep benefit from our 'cause I will keep
31:22
doing it. Jake, I mean, firstly, thanks
31:25
for ranking us just below 10 down, which is great.
31:28
But you mentioned I think on your last appearance that, you
31:31
know, you're doing a lot of this administration yourself, you're
31:33
running it almost like a business yourself individually.
31:35
And I think you're trying to automate features or maybe get
31:38
some outside help. How's that kind of progressed in
31:40
the last sort of since we last spoke?
31:41
With you, I would say it's a great overhead, isn't it?
31:43
Yeah, I would say it probably hasn't to a certain extent.
31:46
I think at the moment, as I think we we've probably said
31:48
before, the majority of the course does automate itself.
31:53
It doesn't require a huge amount of additional admin time for me.
31:57
I think I put the time in because I want to put the time
32:00
in. If you ever became mature,
32:03
that's when I would then really have to consider what kind of
32:06
where we go with it. But I think at the moment it, it
32:09
manages itself the social media, I can manage myself and and
32:14
yeah, that's, that's kind of where we where we sit with it.
32:17
If we, if we put another zero on the number of participants
32:21
tomorrow and put another 10,000 followers, maybe it would need
32:25
somebody to, to manage it a little bit more, which we can
32:28
ultimately hope for. But that's.
32:30
What we get to Let's go a lot. Precisely.
32:31
But, but I think at the moment I'm, I'm kind of, I don't want
32:34
to sound protective over it, but actually while it's me on
32:38
mediating all the content that's going out, because in reality
32:42
it's a representation of me a little bit as well.
32:44
Even though some people kind of don't know who it is behind the
32:46
scenes, But I'm I'm kind of happy where we are at the
32:50
moment. And that's why I suppose if we
32:51
get you on as well, not just talk about the cause, but you
32:54
know, the man behind the initiative effectively, you
32:57
know, in memory of your granddad and.
32:58
And I think we said it last time, I think the the joke is
33:01
always when people interact with us on social media.
33:03
Hi guys or hi team, run some research.
33:07
Where's the not not, and that's not a, that's not a, that's not
33:11
a criticism. It's, but perception, isn't it?
33:13
It probably is a perception that there is more than just me.
33:17
And again, I do have people that do support behind the scenes.
33:20
There are again, the, the, the guys behind the automation are,
33:23
are a massive fact that I have a lot of people that do assist
33:25
with social media graphics and stuff.
33:27
That is not my area. But they can produce the
33:30
graphics and then I can post it, which without them again, we
33:34
wouldn't be where we are. But it does always make me laugh
33:37
when people say yeah high team runs to research.
33:40
Well, that probably is testament to yourself then, isn't it?
33:42
As well, In terms of the way that the brand has grown, the
33:45
opportunity is growing still and the 'cause that you're doing it
33:49
for, yeah. I would say so.
33:52
Sorry, I'm just always in awe what you've done in terms of
33:55
just, you know, from such a such a poignant moment in losing your
34:00
grandfather and then building it to what you've done now should
34:03
be a very proud man. I think that I think that's it.
34:05
I think that's when, when you said earlier about do you have
34:07
to pinch yourself, sometimes I have to think about him.
34:09
And if I do think about him, normally in the November around
34:12
the anniversary of his death, it always just kind of hit home a
34:15
little bit, especially if the numbers are kind of going in the
34:17
right direction towards donations for the season.
34:19
I just have to think about him and he and he would go, yeah,
34:22
lovely job. That's what he always used to
34:23
say. So that's where that's where I
34:25
do have to pinch myself at times.
34:28
Brilliant. Thank you, Jake.
34:29
Right. We're just going to take another
34:30
short break and we'll be back with Jake Burton, the driving
34:33
force behind Rinsfer research. You're listening to PCR sports.
34:49
Good evening. Welcome back to the PCR Sports
34:52
Show. We're rapidly coming up to 7:00,
34:54
but we've got Jake Burton with us.
34:57
The driving force behind runs for research.
34:59
And if you have missed any of the show this evening so far,
35:02
you can listen back to us. Hit the listen again button on
35:06
our website, whichispcrfm.co.uk. Download the app and you'll find
35:13
us through those mediums and through our social media as
35:16
well. PCRFM on Facebook and PCR Sports
35:20
so you can keep abreast of all the updates that we can put out
35:24
across our social media channels.
35:27
Jake, welcome back again to the show.
35:30
Your third appearance runs for research growing.
35:36
Looking ahead to the sixth season, over 2000 players have
35:40
taken part during the course of that time.
35:43
Overseas players games across the UK.
35:49
Support from the likes of Chris Milner, Mark Durham.
35:53
Real team effort collectively to get to this point and just a
35:58
message for them I guess. I think as, as we said earlier
36:02
on, I think without them we wouldn't be where we are.
36:04
I think sometimes I, I probably don't acknowledge them publicly
36:08
as much as I should, but I like to think that they know how much
36:11
of an impact they've made to to this court.
36:14
I think we've, yeah, the, that just the, the simple things, the
36:18
branding, the logos across social media nowadays, you, you
36:22
need strong branding. And without that, yeah, we, we
36:26
certainly wouldn't be where we were today, where we are today.
36:28
And in reality, that, that, that foundation that we've built over
36:32
six seasons kind of just allows us to, to carry on.
36:36
Their logo is being used across all our merchandise.
36:41
The the stickers that Mark's providing are appearing on bats
36:43
all around the UK, the world and, and, and around the world
36:47
hopefully. So yeah, massive, massive impact
36:51
just on something so simple. And local businesses as well.
36:53
Yeah, and the impact to Alzheimer's Research UK as well.
37:00
Yes, there's the money side of it, but just put in their brand
37:03
out there, you know, just the cause out there will make a huge
37:07
difference as well. Exactly.
37:08
I think Alzheimer's effects one in two people at the end of the
37:12
day and by as supporting this the, the number of club
37:18
cricketers in the UK that are impacted is, is going to be
37:20
quite high unfortunately. So therefore bringing a a
37:24
combination of Alzheimer's cricket, but also yes, being
37:27
able to support charity and the the combination seems to be
37:31
working really well and they can feel as if they paid a part in
37:34
that as well. Plans for the season, you know,
37:37
we've talked about how much money has been raised, but in
37:40
terms of the impact that that money raised will have, I guess
37:44
it's just as important to get that out.
37:46
Yeah, exactly. I think, I think we want to just
37:49
keep spreading the spreading the word.
37:51
I think an enormous sense of satisfaction in every season is
37:55
seeing the cause appear in a new club, a club that haven't been
37:59
participating over the past six years and they discover it and
38:02
they go, I wish I'd seen this before.
38:04
Or how long have you been going? I've never seen it.
38:07
It's such a good idea that gives me enormous sense of
38:10
satisfaction because that kind of drives me to think actually,
38:12
if, if there are clubs out there that have got 10 players that,
38:15
that are willing to join our cause.
38:16
And I've never seen it before, there must be 10 other clubs in
38:20
the in the country that, that are in exactly the same
38:22
position. And hopefully we can we can tap
38:25
into that that market kind of over the coming years and keep
38:29
people coming back year on year. They're ambassadors, aren't
38:32
they? Yeah.
38:33
Precisely in the community and and this is this is where people
38:35
say, oh, you've done so well to raise 67,000.
38:38
They have because they've constantly supported the course.
38:41
They're the ones making the donations at the end of the
38:43
season. They are the ones that that put
38:46
it in their, their WhatsApp groups before the start of the
38:48
season. Guys, you need to sign up to
38:49
this. They're the ones that Don the
38:51
bat stickers, the ones that have the conversations with teammates
38:54
and opposition players as to what runs through research is
38:57
without them, we wouldn't be growing where we are.
38:59
So that's I can't, I can't thank them enough for their support
39:05
for somebody that they probably haven't even met. 2025 Sam
39:10
Billings took part. He did.
39:12
Aspirations for 2026 And I guess, you know, it'd be a
39:16
wonderful achievement to get a county player of that stature
39:20
once again on your books. It would it would we, we would
39:23
love the the the cause to be represented across the pro game,
39:27
across the we we've had players in the past that have gone on to
39:30
support that have supported the cause in the past that have gone
39:33
on to play high level. And we hope that that we can
39:36
attract some players in from from my perspective, I'd just
39:39
like it to hit one county changing room.
39:41
If it's one county changing room and three or four players in
39:43
that county changing room get behind us, then we we really
39:47
motoring again. But again, we still want the
39:51
club cricketers to keep supporting, keep spreading the
39:53
word. I'm not going to say that I
39:57
would rather 10 club cricketers than one pro, but actually.
40:01
The club cricketers of what's got is where we want to.
40:04
The pros are just going to drive it to a wider field hopefully,
40:07
but they're still playing cricket the same as everybody
40:09
else. And that's the growth in it,
40:11
isn't it? When you think about it, you've
40:13
got the growth of your club cricketers, over 2000 players of
40:18
taken part, you've got returning players, new players, but the
40:22
growth in it, you've got to be looking at you know, potentially
40:26
the the county circuit, you know the T 20's, the 100, you know
40:30
all of those different formats of the game and to an extent
40:36
initially the junior market as well.
40:37
Yeah, exactly. We, we, we want everybody
40:39
playing whatever level of cricket.
40:41
Ultimately, unless you, you go with the gesture that Sam did
40:45
of, of £0.50 per run, every run is worth 5 P, every wicket is
40:48
worth £0.50. It doesn't matter what level of
40:51
cricket that is or who that person is that's taking that
40:53
wicket. We want them to keep driving
40:56
runs and wickets. I think the number at this
40:58
moment is, I think we've had 800 and eight 880,000 runs scored
41:03
for Runs for Research over six seasons.
41:05
So there'll actually be a target.
41:08
Then again, if if we get a similar season, we might hit a
41:11
million runs scored under the Runs for Research banner in
41:13
2026, which is a nice a nice thing to think about.
41:17
Wow. I don't no, it's I suppose just
41:21
literally blue sky thinking off the top of Med.
41:23
I'm thinking there's no way of identifying who that person
41:26
would be that is there that would score that million threat.
41:29
Because we tended to get sort of in the region of 1000 runs to
41:32
10,000 runs a weekend. So you'd never work it out.
41:36
You might work out maybe what day it was scored or what week
41:39
it was scored in the least, but yeah, that was.
41:41
Impossible to. Yeah, that that, that came
41:43
across my kind of thinking the other day.
41:45
Yeah, I looked at the number. I thought, yeah, that's, that's
41:47
definitely, well, that should happen this year.
41:49
Yeah, which is really is remarkable from a number
41:51
perspective. Yeah.
41:52
Is it too early to say? I guess at which point in the
41:55
season that would be as well because you're looking at the
41:56
weather, aren't you, in the form of players?
41:58
The number of players as well, yeah, we've tended to to kind of
42:01
in a good week, we may average 10,000 runs in a good week,
42:04
depending on again the weather. If everybody's playing mid mid
42:07
midweek summer, yeah, you might get that.
42:10
But again, we we were kind of circa 200,000 runs last season.
42:15
So you're not going to be far off that come the end of the end
42:18
of season, adding to your 880,000 already.
42:22
There's some phenomenal stats to come out of this season, isn't
42:27
there? Yeah.
42:28
And I think that's that that kind of feeds me a little.
42:30
Bit I can see that it's. Been a bit of a gig with
42:33
everything with numbers and yeah, that's probably one of the
42:35
reasons why we love cricket so much is, is it's, it's the lots
42:38
of stats and run some research kind of pulls nicely into that,
42:41
yeah. I'm just thinking if whether you
42:43
know, umpires can get involved in anywhere down the line, not
42:45
saying for every dismissal they give because that may not be
42:48
quite right, but is there, you know, is there?
42:51
Is there a few years ago we did have an umpire in the Lynx
42:53
Premier League that gave a donation based on the number of
42:57
extras he gave. OK, because actually he was
42:59
actually having to physically do something.
43:00
He's given a wire, given a no ball.
43:03
But I think then I played in a game where he was umpiring and
43:08
there was a conversation as to whether or not if I bowled
43:10
wides, whether he would give them because it would cost him
43:13
money. Right.
43:14
OK, not, not, not from a conflict of interest, but just
43:18
in a jokey way. If I deliberately start bowling
43:20
wides, he's going to have to donate money to 1 cause.
43:23
But it was it was a one off thing.
43:25
But in reality, we we've got as many creative ways as people
43:28
want people donating based on their partners because actually
43:32
they want a sport cause but they don't play the same with family
43:35
members. It might be based on the number
43:37
of sixes that they hit or the number of catches that their
43:39
partner takes or something like that.
43:41
It's in reality it's it's all going through the club cricket
43:44
sphere, yeah. Number of 50 scored tons
43:46
potentially. So many data points in cricket.
43:49
Yeah, somebody, somebody said to me the other day, why cricket?
43:53
Well, because in football you don't have as many data points.
43:57
You score goals, you have assists, you might keep clean
43:59
sheets, but we can't do passes we can't do.
44:02
Yeah. Tackles, yeah, although we
44:05
probably could in in a modern sphere, but but yeah, cricket
44:08
kind of is inclusive that allows everybody to to hopefully hit
44:12
one of the the criteria points, OK.
44:14
Right. We're rapidly coming to the end
44:15
of the show, but just again, give us a very quick recap on
44:18
what research runs for research is.
44:20
So Runs for Research is a charity initiative supporting
44:22
Alzheimer's Research UK. Club cricketers commit to A5P
44:26
donation and a per run scored or A50P donation per wicket taken.
44:30
All donations made via a just given page at the end of the
44:33
season, with those funds going to Alzheimer's Research UK.
44:36
And how can people sign up? They can go onto our social
44:39
media pages runs for research across all all the the usual
44:42
platforms or our website www.runsforresearch.org.uk.
44:46
And how much have you raised so far?
44:48
£67,000 as of today and with aspirations for 80,000
44:52
potentially by the end of 2026. Sign up so far for 2026.
44:56
Just over 540 so far, so slightly down on last year, but
45:00
but we've got some good things in the firing line that
45:02
hopefully going to boost those numbers.
45:03
Yeah, couple of weeks of, you know, come to the back end of
45:06
April with the preseason. Yeah, people coming.
45:08
Together as well, people starting to get together and and
45:10
have conversations about cricket.
45:12
What's that sticker on your back?
45:13
Let's get involved in that course.
45:14
Yeah, and that'll make a huge difference.
45:16
So that's Jake Burton. The driving force behind Runs
45:21
for Research, the cricket community movement, raising
45:24
thousands of pounds for Alzheimer's Research.
45:27
UK All in memory of his grandfather Trevor Burton.
45:32
Jake, thank you very much for joining us once again.
45:34
Yeah. Thanks a lot.
45:35
Unless. Wishing you a very successful
45:37
season and no doubt I'll see you around a cricket ground or two
45:41
during the summer and let's hope the sun is shining.
45:43
Definitely. Brilliant stuff.
45:45
Thank you very much, Jake. Cheers.
45:47
Dipamp, thank you once again. Thank.
45:48
You. Cracking stuff guys.
45:51
Thank you for listening very much appreciate your company.
45:53
Once again here on this Friday evening you have been listening
45:56
to the PCR Sports show. We're here every Friday between
45:59
6:00 and 7:00 on PCR FM. Next week's guest is Aaron
46:04
Morrell and we're going to be talking all about the Great
46:06
Eastern Run, which bearing in mind we're talking about coming
46:09
to summer, will be taking place on October the 12th and also
46:14
the. London Marathon takes place next
46:17
weekend as well, so no doubt we'll have plenty of runners
46:20
from in and around our community taking part in the world's
46:24
biggest marathon as well. But.
46:27
All it leaves me to say once again this evening, thank you
46:29
very much for your company and we look forward to having your
46:33
company once again next Friday between 6:00 and 7:00 here on
46:36
PCR Sports. Thank you.