THERE was an amazing turnout at the Roger Wing Memorial Charity 10km and Fun Run on Friday.The chosen charity for this event was the James Paget Hospital Palliative Care Unit Appeal.

THERE was an amazing turnout at the Roger Wing Memorial Charity 10km and Fun Run on Friday.

The chosen charity for this event was the James Paget Hospital Palliative Care Unit Appeal. The appeal is halfway to raising �1.5 million for a new dedicated unit.

A spokesperson for the event said: “With a small amount of sponsorship still outstanding it is not yet possible to give a final amount raised, but the total is at the moment heading towards �2,700.

“The genuine generosity of runners and sponsors was really heart warming.

“When the news is so full of doom and gloom it is so good to see the true concern and kindness of those that are able to do something to help those that need help.”

The entry fee was set at �6 and all of this went to the charity because Bungay Black Dog Running Club had undertaken to cover all costs involved.

Runners were asked to consider either paying an entry fee of �10 or an extra �10 on top of the �6 entry fee, therefore giving further donation to the charity.

The generosity of runners was such that virtually all those that entered chose to donate further cash or raised sponsorship via friends and family. There was also a similar act of kindness in the fun run, which featured runners aged from two-and-a-half years to 42 years old.

The refreshment stall also raised a substantial sum for the charity with Janice Wharton and Grace Cook running about more trying to keep up with the demand, than the runners did in the 10km race.

The race was being blessed with the first real warm weather of the year which caught race director John Wharton out.

With the weather forecast 48 hours earlier predicting rain, all he was doing was praying there would only be showers and these would not deter entrants.

So the warm sun that arrived was a surprise to him. This coupled with the highest entry at this event ever, did cause some difficulties.

There was not enough water provided for the runners either on the course or the finish.

For this the club can only apologise, and give the undertaking that in future years this will not happen again. The running club hopes that this did not spoil the event for the competitors too much.

There were some very fast times run on this still, warm day on a course that is conducive to fast times. All the age category winners must have been near to or better than any times previously set. With the record entry there were runners from many of the surrounding counties and London.

It was really pleasing to see such a good entry in the fun run. This event was run before the main 10km so that runners who were running the main event could watch the fun run before they went out on the course.

Last year was the first fun run at this event, this attracted just under 30 entrants, this year there were 58.

It was so rewarding to see these mainly youngsters enjoy this one-mile run. All received a chocolate egg from the Palliative Care team as the crossed the finish line.

The boys and girls that won their age groups were awarded a larger egg at the presentations, hosted by Marlene Jervis results co-ordinator.

At the presentations for the 10km category winners, Palliative Care team leader, Jenny Westgate thanked the runners for their efforts in raising this much-need support and explained what the unit was setting out to do.

Results - Male first three: 455 Prewer Carl (Lowestoft Road Runners) M Mopen 33:53; 364 Tuddenham Robin (Serpentine) M V40 34:07; 628 Baldelli Benvenuto (Cambridge & Coleridge) M V40 35:18.

Male V40: 364 Tuddenham Robin Serpentine M V40: 34:07.

Male V50: 561 Johnson Peter Norfolk Gazelles M V50 39:17.

Male V60: 422 McCullough Ron M V60 42:20.

Female first three: 638 Emmett Lynn (City of Norwich AC) F FV35 40:16; 415 Dudgeon Sarah (Serpentine) F Fopen 41:09; 467 Clarry Jemma (St Edmunds Pacers) F Fopen 42:22.

Female V35: 471 Reader Kim (Wymondham AC) F Fv35 47:23.

Female V45: 605 Millett Anne (Norwich Road Runners) F Fv45 46:10.

Female V55: 457 Potter Judy (BBDRC) F Fv55 53:48.