United for Sport Relief

4:15pm Monday 17th March 2008

THOMAS, aged four, pulls his hood tight round his ears, the wind buffeting his small frame from all sides.

Understandably, he wants to go home. It's Sunday lunchtime and the gale blowing around Aykley Heads sports centre, in Durham, is enough to make anyone think the same.

But Thomas has done his bit. He was one of thousands who ran, walked or toddled a mile or more over the weekend to raise money for Sport Relief.

Thomas' 11-minute trek round Aykley Heads nature reserve might not get the same attention as Alan Shearer's cycle from Newcastle to London or comedian David Walliams' swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, but everyone has their own mountain to climb.

"He ran ahead at first then stopped to look at the trains," Denise Smith, Thomas' grandmother, says.

"He set off a bit fast but he made it. It was a bit windy but it was good fun."

Countryside ranger Saul Fajerman, the event organiser, says: "It was so windy we let people start as soon as they arrived.

"The cold we're getting is so penetrating."

Saul is stood at the finishing line, next to a crate of water bottles. Perhaps cups of tea might have been better.

But he is soon joined by Theo and Beatrice Glover, who completed the course with father Dave.

The brother and sister, from High Shincliffe, aged five and three, raised £80.

It was cold, Theo admits, but he enjoyed it.

On Friday, in Durham City, hundreds of red and white sock bedecked feet stepped out on a sponsored walk in the shadow of the cathedral.

Almost 200 staff and pupils at The Chorister School completed a one-mile walk by lapping nearby College Green.

Once the proceeds are tallied, their efforts are expected to boost the Sport Relief fund by more than £1,000, boosted by the sale of tickets for an Easter egg tombola.

The event's organiser, teacher Jon Bland, said: "It's a splendid result. I am immensely proud of all our children. They've put a huge amount of effort into these events."

Meanwhile, fitness advisors from Bannatyne's Health Club in Chester-le-Street, helped participants limber up prior to the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile, at Gateshead's Saltwell Park on Sunday, putting the thousands of runners through their paces with a specially-designed warm-up routine.

Sport Relief raises money for causes supported by Comic Relief.

This year's event has already surpassed last year's fundraising total of £18m, with latest figures showing the nationwide event raised £20,747,375.

Share your stories about Sport Relief by clicking here