IPSWICH: Father-and-son bonding was the theme at a charity fundraising event which took over the town.

The Lads and Dads walk, in aid of the Treehouse Appeal, gathered together more than 100 fathers and sons from across the district to take part in a sponsored walk yesterday.

They embarked on a 6km route starting and finishing at Portman Road, taking in much of the town centre and Christchurch Park along the way.

The idea came from Felix Hazell, the ten-year-old son of BBC Suffolk presenter James Hazell, who was in the car with his dad one Sunday evening when they saw a huge stream of women doing the Midnight Walk for a breast cancer charity.

Felix suggested setting up a similar challenge for the Treehouse Appeal – but for men.

James was there alongside Treehouse Appeal co-ordinator Mark Fox and former Ipswich Town player Simon Milton to start the race.

Simon, now sponsorship manager for Ipswich Town academy, said: “It kicked off at 10am but we were there from 9.30am for the group warm up. Then we set off just after 10 o’clock.

“We set off at a brisk pace, followed by two season ticket holders. We had quite a good time actually - we did it in exactly an hour.

“Luckily for us, it was a beautiful day – a bit brisk in the morning but the sun stayed out.”

Simon, who lives in Tattingstone, took part along with 15-year-old son Max.

He added: “It’s a great cause and this is the first time they have done something with lads and their dads. I think it’s probably about time us lads and dads got off our backsides and got out there.

“There were lots of fathers and sons of all ages there – a couple of the sons were very young, in pushchairs and prams, and then there were some older gentlemen with their grown-up sons. It was good to see there were a few people out there getting behind them.”

The amount raised by the walk is yet to be finalised, but it is expected to raise thousands for East Anglia Children’s Hospice.

- Did you take part in the walk? What did you think? write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@eveningstar.co.uk