HUNDREDS of runners donned their superhero capes to run for Brighter Futures.

Martyn Powell had spent the best part of a year making his extraordinary Groot costume, inspired by the tree-like superhero character featured in Marvel series Guardians of the Galaxy.

The 53-year-old, who ran with the Red Oaks Primary School team, joked of his constricting costume: “I’ll have to walk – a slow shuffle.” He added of the cause: “I know so many people touched by cancer and one of our staff-members has just given birth to a premature baby.”

A team from the Great Western Hospital’s cardiac department was also taking part in the Superhero Run at Coate Water. Dressed in an inflatable alien costume and with a flat cap on his head, nurse Martin Larner, 53, described his outfit as a “fusion between Alien and either Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders or Norman Wisdom”.

Purple-caped Sherry Vaggs, 38, took to the course with her husband and two children: “The purple is for the Stroke Association. Stroke has been in our family, with lots of people we know affected by it.”

Generous pageant princess Ayla Schaub, 10, Pre-Teen Young European International Miss Wiltshire, last month donated a stock of Easter eggs to the GWH children’s ward, through Brighter Futures. On Sunday she was back again to fundraise for the hospital charity: “I like how they help other children.”

Runners could take part in 3k or 5k courses around the lake at Coate. First across the line was speedy Cirencester youngster Lucy Bull, eight. She said: “I’ve been doing running for two-years-no. I like it because it keeps you fit and you can try and beat your time.”

For more about Brighter Futures, visit: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.