Almost 300 runners will take part in this year’s Clifftop Challenge on Saturday, and that doesn’t include a group of Royal Marines who will be sharing the finishing line with them.

The fourth annual running event in aid of Breast Cancer Now is set to be the largest one yet and families are invited to attend Walmer Green from noon to cheer competitors across the finishing line.

Athletes will take on either a 55-mile run from Hastings, a 26-mile run from Lympne Castle, a 15-mile run from Capel le Ferne, a 10-mile run from Dover seafront or a five-mile run from St Margaret’s. New for this year is a 36-mile option from Appledore.

Joining the runners along some of the way will be a group of Royal Marines who are running 1664 miles around the UK in just 100 days to raise money for injured marines and their families.

They are expected to cross the finishing line on the promenade at 2.30pm with the Corps of Drums playing.

Organiser Chantele Rashbrook, who has direct experience with breast cancer and whose husband Phil is an ex-Royal Marine, has raised more than £45,000 for the charity through this annual challenge.

She said: “There’s not long to go now and we are all getting excited.

“We have a record 269 runners taking part which I can’t believe. Now all we want is great weather.”

Entertainment and fundraising on Walmer Green will be in full flow from noon with live music from Bad Penny and The Kingsdown Band starting at 3pm.

A professional driving range and a clown will provide entertainment for children and adults alike.

There will be food and drinks from Lillyroo’s. The RMA Club will also be open.