A blockbuster "BIGK" 10K challenge is being planned in Keighley on Sunday, March 16, to raise money for the Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

The Keighley News is lending its full support to the event, representing as it does an ideal opportunity for everyone to get into shape following the festive season.

Runners and walkers of all standards and abilities are welcome - do it with your neighbours, work colleagues, friends and family!

The BIGK 10K aims to achieve the following: l To create an annual event that encourages mass participation by all sections of the community and provides an achievable challenge for most; l To provide an interesting and challenging multi-terrain course that is not too steep, starting at Victoria Park and which connects all four main parks in Keighley via an essentially off-road and scenic route and which connects many different parts of the town; l To raise money for Manorlands; l To raise the profile of sport and physical activity in Keighley; l To involve communities by seeking community participation in providing support and refreshments along the route and at the finish at Victoria Park; l To have fun!

SportKeighley, Keighley & Craven Athletic Club and a host of other key organisations are all supporting the event. March 16 is also Sport Relief Day, and it is hoped to stage additional Sport Relief Mile events at key points on the course.

To make it a real bumper day for sport in Keighley, the date is also the public launch of the Keighley Cougar Foundation, with a number of displays and activities planned at Cougar Park and Keighley Cricket Club leading up to the Cougars' home fixture with Workington that afternoon.

Entry forms and further details will be printed in future copies of the Keighley News and will also be available on-line at www.sportkeighley.com.

Jodie Shepherd, fundraising manager at Manorlands Hospice, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for people to take part in the inaugural Keighley BIGK 10K run and help support a local charity. Manorlands services cost £1.9m each year and rely on voluntary donations for the majority of this total. We are grateful to John Dennis, Cllr Kris Hopkins and the team that has been assembled for turning this great idea into reality."

Dennis, sportKeighley Co-ordinator, said: "It's great to be able to pull together so many of the positive people and aspects of Keighley via the BIGK 10K and create a unique event that will not only get all sorts of people involved but will also show off some of the routes and parks around Keighley and keep us well and truly up there on the sporting map!"

Cllr Hopkins said: "This is an excellent chance for people to get fit, raise money for a very worthy cause and help to strengthen Keighley's increasingly strong reputation for sporting endeavour. I would encourage anyone and everyone who can get involved in some way to do so. It should be a very memorable day."