Thousands of local runners are getting ready for this Sunday’s Bath Half Marathon, 168 of which will be running for local charity, Time is Precious, estimated to bring in around £26,000 for the charity’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Bringing up the rear to make sure no one is left behind, will be Westfield running hero, John Reynolds, who has been helping train local runners to complete the challenge for the charity, 38 of whom belong to the free running group which was set up by John, Westfield TT.

In traditional fashion, John will be running a new, 100 mile circuit 24 hours before the Bath Half, running the race and then running home with other members of the group – 135 miles in total.

John said: “I’m hoping that the run will be tracked live for people to follow. It is all part of the 400 miles in four day record that I am training for in May.

“Both the Time is Precious and the Westfield TT group have done amazingly well with their training, incorporating all extremities of weather, ranging from sub zero temperatures and nights of continuous rain.”

The money raised by the runners will go to vital projects, as Neil Halford, from Time is Precious, explains: “We have projects in local hospitals across the area, but at the moment we are working on a revamp of the Renal Ward at Bristol Children’s Hospital, which is costing over £20,000, and will see the area transformed with a seaside theme.

“We also hope to complete the children’s garden at the RUH in Bath, with plans to install an interactive mobile projector for children in the Accident and Emergency ward.

“In the Booster Therapy Centre, we are providing special seating and extra interactive light panels for sensory development; and an exciting DVD and TV for the MRI scanner at the RUH, which we hope will be in place by 2019 and can be used by adults, as well as children.

“In the anaesthetic ward, we are providing wall art for children, which will make the whole experience less intimidating for them.

“Nicky and I would like to say a big thank you to Wayne and Laura Darby-Jones, who are sponsoring our shirts this year, and of course to all of our local runners, who will do such a fantastic job. Good luck everyone!”

Also joining the Time is Precious runners will be actor and patron of the charity, Will Thorp and Frome boxer, Ryan Wheeler.