RUNNERS, walkers and horse-riders travelled “To The Edge And Back” to raise hundreds of pounds for an air ambulance charity.
More than 55 people donned trainers and walking boots or saddled up for the inaugural fun event which saw participants meet at The Edge Hotel, in Woodland, to complete the spectacular Woodland Triangle route.
The day was organised by keen runner Tim Smith who regularly completes the route for his daily exercise.
He said cash was raised for the Great North Air Ambulance Service because it had saved the lives of several people in the upper Gaunless Valley.
He added: “I thought we would raise £300 but we got well over that. We did have a record. Alastair Hart finished in 18:57, I just couldn’t believe that.
“I know Strava (a smart phone running app) has someone doing it in 17 minutes, but that is for the 2.8mile route, we did over three miles. I think it is a national record.”
Mr Smith said it was fortunate that it was a calm and sunny day, after a number of storms passed through the area earlier in the weekend.
He added: “I went to the tin church in Woodland and I prayed for blue skies. Look at what we have – the last time it happened was in the Bible when Moses prayed for the sea to be calm. It is a modern-day miracle.”
Mr Smith was so impressed with the turnout, he is hoping to make it a regular feature in the village.
He said: “We’ll do the next one in the summer and I have been to the school and we are going to do one for the children.”
Also joining in the fun was child celebrity Teddy Berriman, who recently made headlines when he appeared in the Sky movie A Christmas Number One.
The youngster, who suffers from epilepsy and is acutely disabled, is also currently raising cash for Comic Relief through a Youtube video.
People can view it by searching for Meet Teddy Red Nose Day 2022.
