RUNNERS put their best foot forward on a challenging new course and helped raise more than £5,000 to boost the coffers of a campaign to build a new cancer centre.

Some 600 runners took part in the first Nayland 10k which also featured three km and five km courses for people to test themselves on all types of surfaces around the village.

Cash raised from sponsorship will go to the Colchester Hospital’s Charity Cancer Centre Campaign which is supported by the Gazette.

Organiser Luke Rumbelow has previously organised cycle events in Norfolk and was delighted at how the inaugural running event went.

He said: “The amount of people far exceeded our expectation which is great.

“The shorter courses had lots of families, children and beginners who are just getting into running and it was good to see a nice variety of people.

“The feedback we got was good and people enjoyed the different terrain.

“We made it tough enough for experienced runners which I am pleased about.

“Nayland Community Council provided a lot of help and we could not have done it without them.”

Preparations are already underway for the second event which is scheduled for Sunday, July 1 next year.

Mr Rumbelow said he eventually wanted to attract 1,000 entrants to the event in the coming years. He said: “It has already been pinned in the diary and we want it to get bigger and bigger.”

Mr Rumbelow said he was delighted to be able to support CoHoc and the Cancer Centre Campaign which aims to bring cancer services together on one site in the hospital.

He said: “It is the biggest charity which is based closest to the village.

“In my cycling events I support cancer charities so it is good to have the link there and keep a theme running through.”

The appeal needs to raise £3.25 million to build a state of the art cancer centre on site at the Turner Road hospital.

It will see the chemotherapy and haematology services brought next to the radiotherapy unit.

n To donate to the appeal, text Gaze11 £10 to 70070 or whatever amount you want to donate. Alternatively, you can sign up for fundraising events or donate money to the appeal via the CoHoc website on www.cohoc.org.uk.