ONE of the best known names in British sport was in Essex this week to help promote a fundraising event in support of a cancer charity.

Elliot Furniss

ONE of the best known names in British sport was in Essex this week to help promote a fundraising event in support of a cancer charity.

Sir Trevor Brooking, director of football development at The Football Association, paid a visit to Chelmsford to officially start the 2008 Race for Business.

The tenth annual race saw more than 2,000 runners representing companies and organisations from across the county take part and help raise cash for the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity.

Sir Trevor not only started the three-and-a-half mile race on Wednesday evening in the grounds of Wollastons Solicitors in Brierly Place, New London Road, but he also welcomed home the runners as they crossed the finish line and presented prizes.

Sir Trevor, a former England international who played at the 1982 World Cup, told the runners: “You all make a tremendous difference to the Helen Rollason Heal Cancer Charity by taking part in the Race for Business.

“Helen was such a lovely lady who was taken far too soon and her legacy lives on through the charity which was formed in her memory 10 years ago.”

The winner of the race, Will Wright, of Baker Tilly, completed the run in 17 minutes and 11 seconds.

Second place went to Ian Anthony, of Cardinal Health, who crossed the finish line just 10 seconds behind while Nick Wetheridge, of Royal Bank of Scotland, took the third place in 17 minutes and 59 seconds.

The first woman across the finish line was Loretta Sollars of Essex County Council, who won for the third year running.

The winning team were from Officetec, with Tim Brockington, Alec Coleman and Barry Plowman picking up the prize.

Richard Wollaston, senior partner at Wollastons Solicitors, which organised the race, said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we receive each year for the Race and are proud that our event is so popular and keeps on growing.”

More than £45,000 was raised and now a grand total of more than £270,000 has been raised since the first Race for Business which took place in 1999 with just 150 runners.