Best Foot Forward: Laps clock up £12k as teams hit track

The third annual Best Foot Forward challenge was organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton and featured participants lapping Aldersley Stadium over a 12-hour period on Saturday.

It was truly an event for all ages, with toddlers and pensioners vying for space on the track with dog walkers, runners in fancy dress and a giant orange and blue mascot called Alex the Acorn.

Those involved were kitted out with a microchip that logs the number of laps they complete, and for every lap of the stadium £1 went into the charity pot.

The funds were donated by dozens of local companies, with an entrance fee paid by each participant covering the cost of staging the event and hiring the microchips. Participants could also raise funds for their own chosen charities.

Kicking off at 8am in blazing sunshine, some chose to complete a set number of laps before heading for refreshments, while a hardy few exceeded marathon distances.

They included 75-year-old Roy Grew, who chalked up 118 laps - 31 miles - in six hours. It was the 173rd time Mr Grew, from Tettenhall, has completed a distance longer than the marathon trip.

He said: "This is my third go at Best Foot Forward and I'm glad to have managed my personal best. I did the Potteries marathon last week and this was every bit as testing.

"The most important thing is to raise money for charity. I've raised £118 today so it was definitely worth it."

Paul Tennant spent even longer out on the track, managing 140 laps by mid-afternoon. "I'm a keen runner so when my friends told me about the event I thought I'd give it a try," said Mr Tennant, 35, from Wall Heath.

"It's a good way to keep fit, with the bonus that some really good causes will benefit from the day."

One of the youngest participants was 4-year-old Agnes Hole. She finished seven laps, adding to a combined total of more than 60 completed by her mother Sally, aged 38, brother Etienne, and sister Beatrice, who are both 8.

Sally, from Compton, said: "Beatrice was really keen to do it so we came along and thought we'd try a couple of laps. It's been a great day. We've ended up doing far more than any of us expected!"

Two members of Wolverhampton's Addams Family fundraising crew were also involved. Aaron Morris, 39, from Perton and Stuart Bailey, 43, from Bilbrook, ran and walked 184 laps between them.

"It was hot out there, but it's worth it to raise money for the charities involved," said Mr Morris, aka Uncle Fester, who will be back out fundraising with the rest of the 'family' in September's Wolverhampton marathon.

Jordan Murray-Patel, from Buckie, in Scotland, was among a team of 20 from RAF Cosford who collectively managed more than 1,000 laps of the track.

"I've never done anything like this before but we're all egging each other on to push it as far as we can," said the 22-year-old weapons technician, shortly after completing his 60th circuit.

"We all get a bit competitive because everyone wants to raise as much money as possible for charity."

Other notable performers included Preston Grundy, who completed 163 laps and University of Wolverhampton worker Kate Williams, who is raining funds to go out to Nepal to do relief work with earthquake victims.

She managed 100 laps with the Nepalese flag draped around her shoulders.

Mike Boyce, from Wolverhampton Rotary Club, said the day was a 'major success'

"We were fortunate to get some nice weather and like last year, those who took part managed to complete enough laps to release all of the money in the charity pot.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to all of those involved. We'll be back next year

The cash raised will be split between the Rotary's three chosen charities - Acorns, Wolverhampton Samaritans and the Rotary Charitable Trust.

The event was supported by the Express & Star, Wolverhampton council, Wolverhampton West magazine and the James Beattie Charitable Trust.