Miles for Men fundraiser success as hundreds turn out to offer support

More than 300 men signed up to take part in the fifth 5k for the charity, with the run followed for the first time by the Walk for Women, which saw hundreds more follow the route.

Organisers hope the event will help them break through the £200,000 fundraising barrier.

The total collected since the inaugural Seaton Carew run stands at £175,000 - last year’s event raised £25,000.

All of the money raised through Sunday’s men’s run will go to Hartlepool and District Hospice and half of the funds from the ladies and girls event will go to the hospice, with the rest to support the charity.

Among those to offer their support to the event was Gary Arnell, 48, whose firm Craft Scope set up the start line.

He lost his sister Linda Allen, 59, to cancer a week ago.

“Linda knew most of the Arnell family would be here today” he said.

“It’s an opportunity to get involved and a popular day.”

Lisa Grayson, 38, took part in the walk alongside her twins Jessica and Annalise, 11, and nieces Shakira Keers, 13, and Jessie J Lynsey Grayson-Keers, four.

They took part in memory of Lisa’s sister, Hartlepool United fan Lynsey Grayson, who died of cervical cancer four years ago aged 29, with her photo attached to their T-shirts.

Lisa said: “It’s a fantastic walk for us to take part in and it was also important for us to come along a do it.”