WINCHESTER Half Marathon will be partnering with a hospice charity for a fourth year.

Naomi House and Jacksplace has been named as the lead local charity for the event that will be running to the city's streets next month.

Last year, more than £4,300 was raised for the Sutton Scotney-based hospice that provides expert hospice care to more than 400 life-limited and life-threatened children, young adults and their extended families from Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

Kate Warne, community liaison officer for rees leisure (the organisers of the Winchester Half Marathon), said: “We are delighted that Naomi House & Jacksplace will be our lead local charity again this year. The hospices do amazing work and are very important to our community. "We hope to see lots of runners in Naomi House vests pounding the streets of Winchester this autumn.”

The charity needs to raise £9.2 million every year to support the running of the hospices and provide vital care to families that need it most.

Charlotte Patrick, events fundraiser at Naomi House & Jacksplace, said: “While we care for children, young adults and families from across seven counties, Winchester is very much our home. We are delighted to be working with the fantastic team at Rees Leisure and a really high quality event like the Winchester Half Marathon. "We hope to see record numbers of Naomi House & Jacksplace runners at this year’s event, all doing their bit to support children and young adults on good days, difficult days and last days.”

As usual, the annual Winchester Half Marathon, taking place on September 22, will start and finish in the centre of Winchester outside the Guildhall. The scenic route will take runners through the district's countryside and pass in landmarks such as St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester Cathedral and the statue of King Alfred the Great.

For more information about running the 13.1mile course and raising funds, visit www.winchesterhalf.co.uk/run-for-charity or www.naomihouse.org.uk/winchester-half.

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