Mile events raise £3,000 for Sport Relief

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile events in Shetland at the weekend attracted around 370 participants of all ages and raised an estimated £3,000 for Sport Relief.

On Saturday afternoon the Baltasound Mile event saw 210 adults and children take part, starting from the Baltasound school and completing the three distance challenges of one, three and six miles.

Organiser Caroline Hunter said: “The Unst community has really turned out in force again with even more folk than we had two years ago. We collectively raised a total of £1,621 for Sport Relief, which is a superb amount.”

On Sunday afternoon the Lerwick Mile, in cool, misty conditions, saw around 160 participants, from toddlers to adults, completing distances around the Clickimin Loch and South Lochside. A few youngsters were in fancy dress while members of Shetland Fencing Club turned out in fencing gear and members of Shetland Gymnastics Club cartwheeled around the track.

Organiser Karen Woods said: “There was a good crowd of participants for each of the three distance challenges and everyone looked like they were having had a fun time.

“We reckon we have raised over £1,000 for Sport Relief from the Lerwick Mile alone, on top of the other fund-raising that community groups and local schools have raised. Many thanks to all who took part and helped with the day.”

Anyone with outstanding fund-raising money is urged to return it to Sport Relief as soon as possible either by post, in person (at a bank or post office) or online at www.sportrelief.com/payin.