Three local charities have benefitted from hundreds of runners taking part in the annual Stowmarket Striders Summer Trail Run series.

East Anglian Daily Times: Runners on a trail run in Needham Market. Picture: MATT REASONRunners on a trail run in Needham Market. Picture: MATT REASON (Image: Archant)

A total of 1,605 budding athletes attended the runs with them helping to raise a record sum of £3,637.77, with the beneficiaries praising the club for their support.

It resulted in £1,220 being handed over to each group after the total was topped up from club funds.

Paul Heeks, club chairman, said: “It has been a brilliant year for three amazing and local charities. We have raised more than £1,220 for each charity. Thank you to all the runners, our run hosts and our organisers for making it possible.”

The three charities, supported by a donation of just £2 per runner at 22 Wednesday runs, were nominated by club members.

East Anglian Daily Times: Runners on a Stowmarket Striders Trail Run in Needham Market. Picture: MATT REASONRunners on a Stowmarket Striders Trail Run in Needham Market. Picture: MATT REASON (Image: Archant)

It included the My Wish Every Heart Matters appeal for the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, which was nominated by club member Mike Munson.

At a presentation evening at Stowmarket Football Club, Mr Munson said: “Most of you know I suffered a cardiac arrest while out running and if it wasn’t for three other runners carrying out CPR I would have likely died.

“I have been to several hospitals since my cardiac arrest but the care at West Suffolk Hospital has been brilliant.”

The £500,000 appeal for the heart unit planned for the hospital ion Bury St Edmunds will mean patients like Mr Munson will no longer have to travel hundreds of miles to other hospitals for their after care and treatment.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mike Munson, who nominated My WiSH to receive some of the money raised from the runs. Picture: MATT REASONMike Munson, who nominated My WiSH to receive some of the money raised from the runs. Picture: MATT REASON (Image: Archant)

The Stowmarket Saturday Club was chosen for their work helping care for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the area, as well as respite care for their parents.

Co-chairman Steve Crooks said: “This money is truly a huge boost to us as a charity. We are very grateful to the club.”

And the third charity was Cardiac Risk in the Young, in memory of Stowmarket High School pupil Lily Webster, who died from an undiagnosed cardiac disorder at the Stowmarket Leisure Centre, aged 15.

The money will be used to screen hundreds of young local people and could prevent further deaths.

East Anglian Daily Times: Lily Webster.Lily Webster.

The trail run series, which started in April and ended in September, is organised every year by the club.

This year a trail booklet featuring the directions for the 22 runs was printed by the club, boosting the total raised for charity by more than £380.

The club’s next big event will be the Stowmarket Half Marathon on September 30, rescheduled from March after being cancelled due to the bad weather and “The Beast from the East”.

To find out more about Stowmarket Striders or to enter club races, go to stowmarketstriders.org.uk

East Anglian Daily Times: The Stowmarket Saturday Club. Picture: ANDY ABBOTTThe Stowmarket Saturday Club. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Every Heart Matters logoEvery Heart Matters logo (Image: Archant)