A TIMPERLEY running club has collectively clocked up nearly 300km in a six-and-a-half hour ‘continuous relay’ around a local park to raise money for frontline Trafford charities.

The runners, members of ‘Alice in Runderland’, an all-ability women’s running club, had planned to run a collective 250km.

However on the day they smashed their target, chalking up a final tally of 293km, achieved in 586 laps of 500m around Timperley Green, off Aimson Rd West.

Twelve core members of the group took part, and were ably assisted by friends and family who pitched in and joined in the effort, with the youngest participant, Gryff Stratton Parry, aged just two, putting in a sterling performance with a 500m lap.

So far Alice in Runderland has raised over £600 for the Trafford Crisis Fund, which was set up to support vulnerable Trafford residents through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Group leader Alice Welch said: “The cancellation of events such as the Manchester 10k has made it harder for our runners to have something to aim for and train for, so we decided to set our own challenge that would be open to all abilities.

“The event exceeded all expectations; pretty much everyone who took part beat their personal target and there was a brilliant atmosphere as each runner took over the metaphorical baton and did their bit.”

Event organiser Linda Roy added: “Lockdown has been hard for everyone, but Alice in Runderland members have been incredibly supportive of each other to continue running – and it has been a powerful reminder of the mental health benefits of exercise.

“We wanted to use the thing that has helped to keep us sane in lockdown – running – to raise money for the Trafford Crisis Fund to in turn assist people who have been having a tough time during the pandemic.”