Hundreds take part in Walsall Rotary Club fun run
[gallery]The rain held off as a bumper crowd of more than 800 runners took part in this year's Rotary Club of Walsall fun run.
The number was just over double last year's entries' total and is expected to raise up to £8,000 for the organisation's chosen charities. Yesterday's race, the Rotary Club's 30th, was given a diamond jubilee theme in honour of the Queen's 60 years on the throne, with all finishers being handed a specially engraved medal to mark the occasion. Race director Nick Gray said: "We're very pleased with the number of people who ran and we were really lucky with the weather.
"There was a window between 10 o'clock when people started to register and one 'clock when it was all over that was virtually dry. It wasn't until we were clearing up that it threw it down."
Runners took part in either a 10k run, 5k run and walk or a 3k walk from Walsall Arboretum, raising money for Bryntysilio outdoor education centre, a holiday home for children from across Walsall and Breast Cancer Care. Around 80 volunteers marshalled the varied route which went up Sutton Road, Cuckoo's Nook, Aldridge Airport, Aldridge Road and Buchanan Road.
The shorter events stayed within the Arboretum.
The volunteers were from Queen Mary's Boys' School, Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School and Walsall Sea Scouts as well as the Rotary Club.
Solicitors Enoch Evans' 18-strong team won a prize for largest entry.
Mr Gray said the fun run had raised more than £250,000 over the 30 years.
