DORSET residents are invited to sign up for this year’s Daily Echo-backed Poole Festival of Running as entries are now open.

The 33rd annual event, held in Poole Park on Sunday, June 1, features seven races for all ages, including the chip-timed 10k race, 5k Run for Cancer, supported by the Daily Echo, and the under-15s Minithon races.

All participants in the Poole Festival of Running are asked to pledge at least £10 in sponsorship, with proceeds going to the Dorset Cancer Centre at Poole Hospital, which received £12,000 from last year’s events.

Donations raised have gone on to benefit cancer patients in a variety of ways, including providing music equipment for all the treatment and planning areas, and TVs for the waiting areas to aid patient relaxation.

Mike Towner from Poole Runners, event chairman, said: “Last year’s event was very successful, which we put down to runners being able to support a worthwhile cause.

He added: “We would love to increase numbers from 1,459, to 1800 over the 5k and 10k runs.

“We also had a record number of 150 children per race in our Minithons last year, which would be fantastic to see again.”

Karen Brew, from the Radiotherapy department in the Dorset Cancer Centre at Poole Hospital, said: “We are really excited about Poole Festival of Running supporting the Dorset Cancer Centre again this year.

She added: “A group of us from Radiotherapy ran last year in the 5k and 10k and we are hoping to do the same again this year to support the event.”

For more information about the Poole Runners and the Festival of Running, and to download an entry form, go online to poolerunners.com