DIG out your trainers for the Poole Festival of Running which races into view tomorrow.

The annual event is expected to once again draw thousands of runners to Poole Park on what promises to be a sunny weekend.

This year – the 29th race day – is being held in support of Poole Hospital Wish List, raising funds for the maternity unit appeal.

Entry is closed for the Poole 10km race – but you can enter right up until the day for the Born to Run 5k charity race and the minithons for children.

These are mile-long fun runs for boys and girls aged between eight and 11, while older children between 12 and 14 will have a 1.5 mile event.

The 10km race is being started at 2pm by Maurice Best, 92, a Second World War veteran who was part of the D-Day landings on June 6 1944.

The minithons kick off at 10am followed by the 5k at 11.30am. There will be presentations in the afternoon.

As well as medals for all Minithon finishers and trophies for the winners, there will be an opportunity for one Minithon runner, who entered before race day, to win a Wii Console and Wii Fit Sports Pack.

In addition the child who collects the most sponsorship money, will be invited to the Daily Echo for a day as a reporter.

The Poole school which enters the most children will win £200 vouchers for sports equipment. For more see poolerunners.com l One runner taking on the 10k is grateful new dad David Wainewright – saying a big thank you to Poole Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit which has cared for his daughter Georgia for the last 11 weeks after she arrived early at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lb 8ozs.

David, a ten-times marathon runner, said: “From the moment Georgia was born, the nurses were completely calm – it was so reassuring. Their professionalism was fantastic.”

Poole Hospital’s Maternity Unit is also entering a staff team into the 10k. To find out more about the Born 2 Run 6 and make a donation visit justgiving.com/born2run6