IT is wonderful news that SEQOL charity stepped up to the plate and saved Swindon Half Marathon.

It was unthinkable that, after the town was abandoned by the British Heart Foundation, the race would not go ahead.

Amazingly there were suggestions from some quarters that the race be scrapped for a year but that would have been disastrous, both for the reputation of the race and for the scores of charities who benefit from the runners’ fundraising.

The wonderful thing about the race is that well known national causes like Macmillan and Cancer Research are represented alongside more local causes like Prospect and tiny groups such as nurseries, playgroups and deserving individuals. That cannot be allowed to die, even for a year.

SEQOL, Save The Children and the many other groups who have come forward to help, should be applauded for recognising the value of the event and what it stands for.

Staff at Swindon Borough Council, who brought about the meeting that saved the race, also deserve enormous credit.

There is an awful lot of hard work still to do but there is huge goodwill and no end of voluntary expertise (much of it puzzlingly discarded by the BHF over the last two years) to ensure the race is a success.

What we need now is for runners of all abilities, shapes and sizes to take part this year to ensure it is a huge success.

Many may have been put off by the difficulties of the last two years but now it is time to get out those running shoes and show everyone that Swindon knows how to put on a race.