Great turn out for charity run
Report Jul 17 2006 By Alan Weston Daily Post Staff
THOUSANDS of people on Merseyside entered into the spirit of the Sport Relief charity event by running a mile.
Children and adults took advantage of Saturday afternoon sunshine by joining events organised at Croxteth Hall and Country Park, and Bootle Hillside High School.
At Croxteth, 2,000 people took part in the four runs organised over the course of the day.
There were a variety of costumes on display, including participants dressed as hoola girls and fairies.
(Myerscough College) Centre manager Helen Eaton said: "It was a fantastic day because we managed to tie it in with the Country Fair weekend which was also being held at the park.
"We were sold out for all the runs and there were quite a few people in fancy dress."
The tie-in with the Myerscough College Croxteth Country Fair allowed participants, after completing their mile, to enjoy a day of countryside demonstrations such as gamekeeping, gardening, tree work, floristry and small animal care.
Runners on Merseyside helped contribute to the £12,216,598 so far raised by hundreds of Sport Relief mile-long events, with more than 420,000 people taking part across the country.
Lord Mayor Cllr Joan Lang fired the starting pistol, sending teenagers, families and older competitors on the course.
It was one of hundreds of races taking place in 15 major cities around the UK.
Cllr Lang said: "This is a wonderful day for a wonderful cause, and Liverpool milers will raise lots of money for vulnerable people in the UK and in the poorest countries around the world."
Each runner wore a Sport Relief Red Sock and, at the end of the race, was presented with a second to make a pair.
The Liverpool event was part of the Myerscough College Croxteth Country Fair, including free family entertainment and demonstrations including gamekeeping, floristry and small animal care.
Runners in the region were also competing in the Bootle Hillside High School Mile.
Organisers said that, when all the money raised nationwide is finally counted, they expect to have broken their previous highest total of £16m.
Jamie Oliver, Sadie Frost and boy band McFly took part in the mile on London's Embankment, with double Olympic Gold medallist Kelly Holmes starting off the first runners.
Sport Relief is a joint initiative between Comic Relief and BBC Sport. The money raised is split between projects in disadvantaged communities in the UK and helping children and young people overseas.
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