Olympic gold medal skier Charlotte Evans is to start Sheppey’s Island Run today (Sunday).

More than 400 runners - many in fancy dress - are expected to tackle the grueling road and cross-country course from Leysdown to the other end of the Island at Sheerness.

It has been part of the Island’s calendar for more than 40 years but this is the first year it has been organised by the Rotary Club of Minster-on-Sea in association with the Kent Sports Trust.

Charlotte will not only start the race but will also take part in it.

Rotary spokesman Jenny Hurkett said: “This is an Island tradition that portrays all that is positive about Sheppey. It is fun, it is healthy and it shows Sheppey at its best.”

Entrants can register up to 30 minutes before the start of their race. The first race of the day kicks off at 8.30am.

Times

8.30am: 10-mile fun walk begins from the car park next to the new Leysdown beach huts on the seafront near Shellness Road.

10am: 10-mile run starts in the car park by the Leysdown beach huts.

10.30am: Two-mile fun run for families starts on the promenade at Minster Leas in front of the Little Oyster care home.

All the courses finish in Sheerness at Beachfields near the sandpit.

The Course

The 10-mile section will take runners through Warden Bay and up the unmade Donkey Hill.

Rotarians were out in force yesterday morning (Saturday) before breakfast filling in potholes under the guidance of president Fiona Jackson. She said: “I’d like to thank SBS for providing the stone and the lady lorry driver for putting it exactly where we wanted it.”

Contestants on the 10-mile run and walk will go along Warden Road to join Chequers Road and then through Minster to The Leas. All runners will then follow the promenade and cycle track along the Coast Road to Beachfields.

History

Rotarians took over after Fiona Trigwell and her team pulled out after 10 years of organising the run in memory of her late husband Paul Trigwell. Over the years the run has raised more than £100,000 for local charities and good causes, mainly for youngsters.

Fiona said: “When I announced we were stepping down I was overwhelmed with the pledges of support which followed. I have to thank the Rotary Club for stepping in.”

Rotarian Ray Seager said: “Like many others, we didn’t want to see this event die after all the effort which has gone into it. Fiona and her team have done an amazing job.”

Among those taking part last year was one-legged dad Matt Bromley from Sheerness who tackled the course in his NHS wheelchair. It prompted him to enter and finish last month’s London Marathon.

Those taking part range from tots still in prams to veterans well into their 70s.

Charlotte

Charlotte was one of Britain’s brightest skiers taking the title of English champion in 2009 before becoming a sight guide in 2010. She and her skiing partner Kelly Gallagher won Britain’s first winter games gold medal for skiing.

Charlotte began skiing on a dry slope with her dad when she was five. Her natural talent was quickly noticed and she joined a race club which competed around the country.

She only skied on snow for the first time when she was 13 but within two years she had been selected to join the England Alpine ski team. At 17 she became English champion and regarded as a rising star.

But a knee injury on the slopes stopped her skiing for a year. During her rehabilitation period she was asked to become a sight guide for a disabled athlete.

Despite having no experience of the Paralympic Games or being a ski guide she started training with Kelly. Four years later, the pair won gold in the winter Olympics – and Charlotte was made an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services to paralympic sport.

For more details about the run, visit www.ptir.org.uk