CREATING a lasting legacy in memory of a popular Broad Hinton resident has seen thousands of pounds raised for the Brighter Futures appeal.

Every year, the Hackpen Hill 10k sees hundreds of people take on the gruelling challenge of running around the picturesque tracks and farm fields skirting the historic Ridgeway trail.

Last month, 150 people took part and after adding up the pennies and pounds, organisers were able to hand over a cheque of £5,624.61 to Brighter Futures.

As it was paid through The Good Exchange, an organisation that aims to pair up fundraisers with donors, the funds are eligible to be match funded by the Greenham Trust, making the total reach £10,000 for the radiotherapy appeal.

The Hackpen Hill 10k, held at Weir Farm in Broad Hinton, was first created three years ago in memory of Gill Hussey, the wife of the farm’s owner James, who died at the end of 2014 after a long fight with cancer.

Organiser Paul Bailey, 43, who lives in Wroughton, paid thanks to everyone who was involved in the planning of the event including James Hussey, a number of running clubs as well as his father Graham.

“It is a staggering amount of money and it is just a small drop in the ocean but it helps so much,” he said. “It might pay for a bed in the radiotherapy unit – we don’t know what it will go towards but at the end of the day it will help the people of Swindon.

“It is a sad thing about why we do it and we all wish Gill was back with us but with life comes death and so it is nice that such a well-liked person is being remembered in such a nice way. Even people who didn’t know her can relate to her and I think that is another reason why people get involved.”

As well as being a lasting legacy in Gill's memory, the event also wants to help fund the new radiotherapy centre and end the tiresome Oxford journey for Swindon’s cancer patients.

On Friday Paul was able to hand over the generous cheque to Catherine Newman, head of fundraising at Brighter Futures.

She said: “It is incredible how much money they have raised. They have organised the run over the last three years for us and Paul has been fantastic and a huge supporter of the charity.

“They have seen numbers increase year on year and even though it is a challenge, people come out whatever the weather because there is a really lovely atmosphere. Everyone does incredibly well and lots of running clubs get involved too.

“It is a stunning location and being able to see the White Horse on the hill is just beautiful. A lot of people run the 10k for James because he is so big in the community and everyone wants to keep Gill’s memory alive.

“James is such a nice guy and he is very unassuming but he has raised over £33,000 for us over the years and he wants to help in any way he can.

“Every penny adds up and it is just incredible the amount of responses we are getting. People are coming up with ingenious ways of raising money and it would be a lovely gesture for us to hit that £2m for Christmas.”

Paul added that the hugely popular Gingerbread Run will make a welcomed return when it is held on December 31.