Festive Forest Challenge helps business cross £50,000 mark for St Nicholas Hospice Care

Braving the cold in their festive gear, hundreds of runners and walkers helped a business cross the £50,000 fund-raising mark for charity.

The Festive Forest Challenge attracted 312 participants, who could run, walk or Nordic walk 10k, a half marathon or 20 miles from West Stow Country Park through Kings Forest.

Organiser Kevin Marshall, who runs personal training business Positive Steps, said the sixth annual event on Saturday raised £7,132 for St Nicholas Hospice Care with more due in individual sponsorship.

Together with the company’s Bury to Clare Challenge, it takes its grand total over six years to more than £50,000 for the charity.

Mr Marshall said: “It was brilliant as always and we had lots of comments afterwards saying they enjoyed it, there was a brilliant atmosphere and they loved the tea and cake.”

The half marathon was the most popular option with 185 participants and about 35 took on the 20 mile challenge.

There were prizes for the best costumes.

When asked about the amount of money generated over the years, Mr Marshall said he was ‘proud’ that he had been able to pull together a team to make the fund-raising event happen.

“We get people coming back year on year because they just love it,” he said.

The 18-mile Bury to Clare Challenge in aid of the hospice is on May 12.

To sign up, visit https://positivestepspt.co.uk/events

For more pictures, see Friday's Bury Free Press newspaper.