HUNDREDS of runners are expected to take part in the Sainsbury’s Sports Relief Mile which a Kent city is hosting for the first time.

The event, on Sunday, March 16, is being staged at the University of Kent in Canterbury and organisers are inviting individuals, families and local sports clubs to join in.

As well as the traditional mile, runners and walkers seeking more of a challenge can tackle three or six-mile routes.

The event is being organised by Sarah Gower, a health promotion and exercise specialist from the Eastern and Coastal Primary Care Trust.

She said: “We are delighted to have been successful in bidding for Sport Relief for Canterbury which will be one of 200 similar events across the country.

“We want as many people as possible to take part and are planning a real festival atmosphere for all the family.

“It costs just £5 for adults and £2 for children or £12 for an family entry of two adults and two children.”

The entry just covers the cost of staging the event. Participants are then expected to get sponsorship and all the information is available at www.sportrelief.com

Sarah said: “We are delighted the University of Kent has offered us the venue.

“All the money raised goes into the Comic Relief fund which supports poor and deprived people in the the UK and across the world.

“We are expecting a big response and the numbers are limited to 500 so we are advising people to get their entries in quickly.”