It’s time to lace up the trainers for the first fund-raising event organised by the current mayor of Ledbury, Cllr Phillip Howells.

The Mayor’s Mile event will take place this Sunday, September 22, with registration at Ledbury’s iconic building, The Market House.

Those taking part will be asked to run at least one mile, and even more if they are feeling fit and keen.

There will be three and six mile options “for those fit enough to stretch themselves over more than 1 mile”.

Registration is from 1pm on the day at the Market House with the first run starting at 2pm. All ages welcome, but under 16’s should be accompanied by an adult.

The mayor’s theme for the year is ‘youth’ and he asked the youth of the town which charities they would like him to support.

Their clear choices were ‘Addaction Herefordshire’ , which offers information, advice and support for people with drug and alcohol issues every weekday, ‘Strong Young Minds’ - a Big Lottery funded project designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Herefordshire, and ‘Amnesty International Hereford Group’.

The mayor’s target is to raise £5,000 over the year. Sponsorship forms are available from the town council offices in Church Street.

Cllr Howells said: “I would like to offer my grateful thanks to Ledbury Swifts Football Club, who are organising the event on my behalf. The Club would like as many marshals as possible to help on the day, so if interested please send your name and contact details to the town clerk as soon as possible.

“Volunteers will need to turn up at 12.45pm on the day so they can be allocated their positions on the course.”

Cllr Howells is no stranger to long distance running.

He made the headlines three years ago when, at the age of 68, he was officially crowned as the UK’s Most Over Active Pensioner.

He was selected through in a public vote that saw him go up against a Himalayan mountain trekker, a transatlantic sailor, a Cornish triathlete and a scuba-diving ‘supergran’. He pipped the other finalists to the finishing post as a result of his physical achievements, which included running 167 marathons.

Further information about the Mayor’s Mile: 01531 632306.