Sports relief needs your cheers

Olympic triathlete, Hollie Avil, international 800m runner, Damian Moss, and Northamptonshire County Cricket Academy Director and ex-player, David Ripley, will be joining BBC Radio Northampton presenter Joe Pignatiello in the Market Square this Sunday (21 March) to start the Northampton Sport Relief Mile.

People coming down to take part or support the ‘milers' will be able to hear Hollie, Damian and David speak about their sporting experiences and the Vipers Cheerleaders will also be coming to do two special performances on the Market Square stage. Joe will be looking after proceedings from 9am to 11am and one of his roving reporters will be in amongst the crowd, live on BBC Radio Northampton. People taking part in the 1 mile event will start at 9.30am. The 3 and 6 mile events begin at 10am.

The event, which has been organised by Northampton Borough Council's Sports Development Team, is now unfortunately fully booked. Across the country, the Sport Relief Miles have proved more popular than imagined and central organisers have had to cut the Northampton registration numbers from 1,000 to 630 to make sure nobody that takes part goes home without a goody bag and medal.

Chris Rockall, borough council sports development officer and organiser of the Northampton mile event, said: "It's a little bit disappointing that Sport Relief have had to cut our numbers because it means no more people can register. Nevertheless, I hope to see lots of supporters coming down to the market square to cheer on the 630 participants and to enjoy the entertainment and interviews."

Hollie Avil, Olympic Triathlete, commented: "Sport Relief is an important cause because it promotes the importance of doing physical activity whilst raising huge amounts of money for people who really need some help.

"Unfortunately I can't take part in the mile because of my Olympic training regime but I wouldn't miss the event for the world. I'll be on the BBC stage in the Market Square on Sunday, 21 March to help start the run and to cheer everyone on to the finish. I hope the people of Northampton will come down to support the participants and the borough council's sports development team who have working hard to organise the event for the town and Sport Relief."

Joe Pignatiello, BBC Radio Northampton's morning presenter and compere for the morning, added: "I'm delighted to be involved with Northampton's Sport Relief Mile, it's going to be amazing to see so many local people giving up their time to raise money for such a good cause. Although, I can't promise to help with the blisters afterwards, I'll be sure to cheer on the hundreds of runners taking part!"

Sport Relief has a unique history of dedicated people doing extraordinary things to rise to the challenge. Whether you are having a go at the 1, 3 or 6 Northampton Mile, why not challenge yourself in an extraordinary way - wear fancy dress or your sport club kit, run, hop, skip or dance, hold hands or sing your way around.

Last summer Eddie Izzard set an incredible standard by running an amazing 43 marathons in 51 days around the UK and there'll be even more amazing celebrity challenges to get the whole nation geared up for the Sport Relief Weekend, from David Walliams and friends on the BT Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride, to Helen Skelton's Amazing Amazon Adventure, to Christine Bleakley's Thomson Sport Relief Waterski Challenge.

For more information about sports in Northampton, contact the borough council's Sports Development Team on 01604 837774 or www.northampton.gov.uk/sports

Other Local News from Northampton

• VIDEO: Badminton pair battle for GB place
• Gloucester v Northampton (Sat)
• Housing growth plan row resolved
• Kettering P-P AFC Telford
• Poppies all but dead - supporters
• View All Latest News in Northampton