ABOUT 1,200 people have taken part in three races to help raise money for a children’s hospice.

Runners who took on the challenge of the Acorns Triple Run at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern on Sunday chose from 1K, 5K and half-marathon events.

Acorns Children’s Hospice organisers hope the event will eventually bring in £30,000, which is much needed to continue the charity’s work with life-limited children.

David Strudley, chief executive of Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We have had an amazing day.

“It started pretty wet but the sun came out for us.

“It was really good, considering how boggy the ground, was that the time was one hour and 13 minutes for the fastest half-marathon runner home.

“The most wonderful thing is that people bringing in their sponsorship will be supporting our children and their parents in a way we desperately need.”

The runs started at 10.45am on Sunday with about 360 people running the Spring race (5K) while 100 took part in the wheelchair-friendly Chicken Run (1K) and the rest ran the 13-mile half- marathon.

Among those taking part in the Chicken Run were children from the hospice and those with learning and physical disabilities.

At the event to help entertain the runners was Britain’s Got Talent’s Pippa Longhorne, with her singing dog Buddy, and Worcester singer-songwriter Mike Skilbeck.

Mr Strudley added: “We’ve had more runners this year than for a couple of years and that’s always lovely to get extra people here.

“Funding has never been more difficult than it is at the moment and to be able to have an event like this at the beginning of our summer season is great.

“The people of Hereford and Worcester are absolutely brilliant for supporting us.

“Please, please everybody keep on fund-raising and raising awareness for us as the year goes on.”