THIS year’s Run Wexham races raised a record £17,000 to support some of the most poorly children at Slough's Wexham Park Hospital.

Around 250 serious athletes and fun runners stepped up to the charity challenge at Black Park country park on July 8.

Now the sponsorship monies have been added up and the final sum has delighted organisers.

Anthony Kerslake, Frimley Health Charity fundraising manager, said: “Run Wexham has grown tremendously over the years and this year’s event was our biggest and best yet.

“Black Park was an amazing venue and this year we had more runners and raised more money for Wexham Park Hospital than ever before.”

It was the first time Run Wexham had been held at Black Park and participants could choose between 10km and 5km trail races or take part in a 1km family fun run.

Once again the event was held in aid of the Frimley Health Charity’s Children’s Critical Care Appeal, a £230,000 campaign to support Wexham Park’s new paediatric high dependency unit.

The campaign is funding specialist equipment above and beyond that provided by the NHS budget.

This year’s top Run Wexham fundraiser was Manroop Ahitan, who works in Wexham Park Hospital’s emergency department. She raised £900 with her husband Surinder. They win a complimentary afternoon tea for two at Stoke Place hotel in Stoke Poges.

Hospital supporters Carly Wood and Lisa O’Brien, from Slough, together raised £865.18 and also win afternoon tea at Stoke Place. While Selina Zaman, who is also from Slough and was the face of this year’s event, raised £758. She receives a MooGoo skincare hamper.

Special mentions go to two Wexham Park Hospital teams. Eleven runners from Ward 24, the children’s ward, donned multi-coloured tutus for the event and raised £953.50. While a 24-strong contingent from the emergency department collected a combined £2,188.83.

Mr Kerslake said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in this year’s Run Wexham, as well as those who turned out to cheer them on.

“We’d also like to thank our amazing charity supporters, volunteers and sponsors who helped to make the event such a success.”