RUNNERS who competed in a race to remember Dartmouth Amateur Athletic Club member Derek Rogers have raised £2,500 for charity.

Around 90 people took part in the road run in September in memory of club captain, Derek, who died in December last year after a battle with cancer.

He was cared for at Rowcroft Hospice and fellow club members wanted to do something in recognition of the care and support he and his family received.

One of the organisers Rebecca Hodge said: ‘We wanted to do something to remember Derek and a road race seemed perfect.

‘It went really well. The weather was great and there was a really nice community atmosphere to the day.’

There were two races, a 5K from Coronation Park to Dartmouth Castle and back and the 10K from Coronation Park to Stoke Fleming and back again.

The youngest runner was 10-year-old Xavier Bly who came second in the 5K race and the oldest runner was aged 71.

Some walked the route, and 10 members of Derek’s family, his wife, Elaine, son, daughter, nieces, nephews and grandchildren all took part too.

The event was sponsored by Dartmouth business Floair, run by Chris Tracey and Richard Albones, who supplied the medals. Dartmouth Rowing Club allowed the group to use its clubhouse as the race headquarters and ran a barbecue and the Old Dartmothians acted as stewards.

Elaine was present last week when sponsorship money of £2,500 was handed over to Rowcroft Hospice.

‘We were overwhelmed at the response,’ she said. ‘Thanks go to everyone who took part or supported the event in any way.’