By Matthew Legg

Published at 11:19, Monday, 17 March 2008

MILES of smiles warmed a chilly Cumbria yesterday as fun runners turned out to raise cash for Sport Relief.

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People gathered at Carlisle, Maryport and Penrith to run, walk or crawl a mile and donate money to the BBC charity.

At Carlisle’s Sheepmount running track about 80 runners – from tots to pensioners – turned up to complete the course and pour more than £1,000 into the pot. They had the choice of completing one, three or six miles.

Brampton teenagers Andrew Crabtree, 17, and Sandy McPhee, 16, – sixth formers at William Howard School – chose to run the maximum and dressed as topless supermen for the occasion. Sandy said: “It just seemed a good idea to get dressed up and make an effort for the day. We aren’t runners and haven’t done any training, but we are confident we will get round ok.”

Andrew added: “We set ourselves targets of raising £100 each; I raised £160 and Sandy £150, so we did better than we had expected.”

Kathryn Graham, 22, and Claire Edwards, 21, from Whitehaven, to take part.

Kathryn said: “We don’t do much normally but we thought this was a great chance to have fun and raise money for a good cause.”

Runners were warmed up by fitness instructors from Carlisle’s St Aiden’s School - Lucy Charlton, Debby Graham and Kayleigh Hodwin.

The trio led them through aerobic exercises to loosen their muscles before the event began.

West Cumbria’s event took place in the grounds of Netherhall RUFC and Netherhall Specialist Sports College in Maryport.

A group warm-up there was led by Netherhall Eagles cheerleading team, and attractions included food stalls, a smoothie making workshop, spinning and free fitness suite.

In Penrith, a fete was held at Newton Rigg. Sport Relief spends the money raised to help vulnerable people in the UK and abroad.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk