WATCH: Messy slester in the sunshine

Explosions of colour and radiant sunshine greeted more than 200 runners for the Messy Slester charity run around Spiggie Loch.

Sunglasses at the ready, streams of eager walkers and joggers set off from Boddam Hall for the first colour fun run to be held in the isles.

Clouds  of red, orange, yellow and pink splattered over fundraisers at various points on the route, all in good fun and all to raise money and awareness for MS Society Shetland.

Gordon and Dawn Sigel took part in the 5k run, with a 2.5k and 10k route also marked out for the day.

Gordon, whose grandmother had MS, started running after giving up the cigarettes.

“My wife got me into running,” he said.

“I’ve got the running bug. I try to get out three times a week.”

“Everybody was having a laugh on the way and getting all powdered up at the beginning,” added Dawn.

“People were cheering you on. It was great fun.

“There’s always somebody nearby you, or family suffering [with MS] so it’s good to be helping out in any way.”

Jennifer Nicolson and Amber Morrison were also taking part in the 5K race.

Amber said she had a great time, though swallowed a bit of powder paint when she was smiling for the photos.

“I was gaffing and got a big mouthful,” she said.

“It was very organised and there were lots of stalls,” Jennifer said.

“Everybody was really encouraging and it has been an ideal day for it.”

Secretary of the charity Ann Johnston was delighted with the turnout.

“It’s the first time we’ve organised this sort of run and it was a bit worrying as to how many people would turn up, but this is fantastic.

“The weather has been kind. It could’ve been raining which might’ve spoiled the whole thing.”

Ann said the charity was very well supported in the isles. And there are plans afoot to make the run an annual event.

“I would say off the top of my head, just about every family either knows or is affected by MS,” she said.

• For more including  a selection of pictures from the event see Friday’s Shetland Times.