Will you be number one for charity run ? (From Gazette Series)

Will you be number one for charity run ?

THE hunt is on for a special person to wear the Number 1 shirt at the Cancer Research UK 10-km sponsored run at Badminton Estate on Sunday, September 4.

Cancer Research UK 10, supported by Tesco, is a unique series of 10-km runs taking place at 23 stately homes around the country and giving some participants exclusive access to the grounds of some of the noblest homes in the land.

This year is the second time that the event is to take place at Badminton Estate, private home to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, and it is hoped all 1,200 places will be filled to raise £66,000 towards the overall series target of £2.5 million.

Organisers have been delighted by the enthusiasm of people in the South West for the event and already over 400 men and women have signed up to take part at Badminton Estate.

Now the charity is offering participants the chance to claim the highly sought after Number 1 running number.

Says event organiser Esther Hartas: "We want to hear why those taking part think they deserve to be our Number One at Badminton.

"It could be their extraordinary fundraising efforts or a very special motivation they have for doing the run. Maybe they or someone close to them has been touched by cancer.

"Whatever the story, we are asking participants to share it with us. We will then choose the runner we consider to be our Number 1 and give that person the honour of wearing the number on the day."

Asics UK have also kindly donated a goodie bag (containing sports towel, water bottle and mini personal radio with headphones) to help the prize-winner train for the event.

The competition, open to anyone taking part in the Cancer Research UK10 at Badminton Estate, is open until 5pm on Tuesday, August 30.

To make a claim for the Number 1, contact Liza-Jane Gillespie at the Gazette on 01453 544000 or e-mail reporters@dursleygazette.co.uk and tell her your story.

For more information about the event and how to enter, visit the Cancer Research UK10 website at www.cancerresearchuk10.co.uk It costs £17.50 to take part and all entrants receive a specially designed Cancer Research UK 10 t-shirt to run in, plus a medal when they finish.

Participants are also asked to raise sponsorship money to support Cancer Research UK's vital and lifesaving work.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help at the event, please contact Esther on esther.hartas@cancer.org.uk or 07789 505475.