HUNDREDS of heroic runners dressed as a variety of characters from popular culture came together to raise vital funding for a hospice charity.
Hero Run 2024 took place on Sunday and attracted nearly 200 pavement-pounders all looking to raise funds in aid of St Helena Hospice,
Setting off from Colchester Sports Park, joggers of all abilities tackled either a 10km, 5km or 2km route around the cycle track while dressed as superheroes.
Each run was started off by volunteers dressed as Planet of the Apes in costumes from The UK Garrison, as well as Star Wars Stormtroopers.
Olympic gold medallist and Conservative parliamentary candidate for Colchester James Cracknell, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Colchester Martin Goss, were on hand to award medals at the end of each run.
Lynda Conway led a team dressed as fairies in support of her 28-year-old daughter Daisy Murfin, who is being supported at their home by St Helena Hospice.
Daisy joined in the fun too via video call from home, chatting to Stormtroopers and cheering on her family and friends who were taking part in the fun run.
Lynda said: “I’m really proud of the team, they are amazing. They have been so supportive and have raised lots of money, and gave up their Sunday morning to run round a track dressed as fairies, and I’m very grateful to them all.
“They came along because Daisy is fantastic and so is St Helena Hospice for looking after us all.”
Jane Pluck, who carried signs saying ‘My husband is my hero’ and ‘St Helena Hospice staff are our heroes’, was accompanied by husband Steve and son Harry, both dressed as doctors.
Mrs Pluck, who briefly stayed at the hospice last year, said: “I feel exhausted, happy, thankful. I did it to remember a few people and because the hospice is just amazing.”
Sarah Rogers, meanwhile, ran with a photo pinned to her running top of her mum Sharon Daley, who was cared for by St Helena Hospice.
Mrs Rogers took part in the 2km family fun run with husband Henri and children Jude,7, and Evie,4.
She said: “I’m exhausted now but my little girl managed to do it so I couldn’t stop, but it’s nothing compared to what everyone is going through at the hospice, so it was a pleasure and an honour to do it.
"The children set a sponsorship target of £50 and they raised £325 in the end.”
It is not yet known how much the charity event, sponsored by Jones and Whymark, raised, but all donations will now go towards helping St Helena Hospice.
Marcus Poston, partnerships fundraising manager at St Helena Hospice, said: “It was great to see so many runners join us on Sunday - even our mascot, Saunders the elephant, managed to complete the 2km.
"Every year, we support more than 4,400 people, but our income is currently not enough to meet the demand for our services.
"So events like Hero Run are vital to help us continue to support local people facing incurable illness and bereavement."
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