THERE was a distinctly maternal feel to yesterday’s Mad March Hare, which celebrated its eighth year in the town with a start on Mother’s Day for the first time.

The rain stayed away despite cloudy skies across Lydiard Park Academy and the surrounding race route – an improvement on 2014’s hailstones.

All funds raised will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which is dedicated to ending the disease, and a number of mothers and children ran the Hare together.

More than 600 fundraisers completed the 5km and 10km events, with an estimated £10,000 raised for the charity.

Laura Parnham, 29, was one of the organisers on the day.

This was her fourth year of being involved with the event after a friend on the organising committee lured her in.

She said the event continues to grow in popularity across Swindon and its timing in March attracts a number of people still on healthy New Year resolutions.

She said: “Everyone seems to be buzzing. This is one of the earlier races in the calendar. A lot of those who took up running in January as a new health kick tend to choose this as a first event.

“A lot of people come back every year, which is really good for the event.

“I was shopping the other day when I was sorting the goody bags and a lady randomly stopped me. She said she was involved in the event because her sister was going through breast cancer and she was running it herself.”

In its first seven years Mad March Hare raised more than £78,000 for its chosen charity, although there are no fundraising requirements that entrants must meet.

Laura said: “It’s a fun run and not everyone takes it seriously. There also isn’t a set amount of money people have to raise.

“People like to come along and be part of the group. There’s a great warm-up with the Zumba beforehand.”

Jo Ridley, 49, secretary and event manager of the team behind the event, said: “It’s a high-profile race in Swindon now, with a nice distance for people new to running, as well as the 5km option.

“We also have good links with Swindon Shin Splints, where it is put forward as a good first race for beginners.

“You have a mixture of fun runners and club runners doing it as fast as they can.”

For more information, visit www.madmarchhare.org.uk