District councillors joined disabled athletes and their supporters in Keighley to raise an estimated £1,000 for charity with a fun run

Keighley West ward councillor Jan Smithies was sponsored to run three kilometres at Marley sports ground in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

Her colleague Doreen Lee, who represents Keighley East, acted as a marshal while the runners completed circuits around the borders of the playing field.

The runners, who included several competitors from last month’s national Special Olympics, also ran across the Keighley Show ground.

Competitors were able to run either 3km or 5km in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which this year is supporting Bradford Disability Sports & Leisure.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley councillor Khadim Hussain, wants to support the organisation’s work running clubs in Keighley and Bradford and training people with learning disabilities for the Special Olympics.

Coun Smithies said she had gained about £300 in sponsorship, including pledges from members of all the political parties on Bradford Council.

Although she had been training every weekend in advance of the fun run, Coun Smithies decided to run alongside BDSL members rather than going for gold.

She said the athletes’ recent success in the Special Olympics – bringing home more than 30 medals for Bradford district – was fantastic.

She said: “You can see how proud they are about their achievements. The fact they have got something to aim for is wonderful.”

BDSL spokesman Barry Thorne said: “This is the first time we’ve done a sponsored run this way. We’re hoping to bring in £1,000.”

First past the post after running 3km was long-time BDSL athlete David Brooke, from Braithwaite, with Jan Smithies and BDSL member Stephen Thorne coming joint second. The winner of the 5km race was James Lane, brother of BDSL staff member Andrew Lane, while Aidan Knights of Cross Roads was the first BDSL member to complete 5km.