HUNDREDS of runners have already signed up for next year’s St Helens 10k, the first since Steve Prescott, the race’s founder, passed away.

The event, now in its fourth year, has also been boosted by North Road-based GPW Recruitment reaffirming its commitment for a third year in succession.

There is a belief that the number of runners will soar through continued support for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

So far, more than 300 people have signed up.

Building the SPF’s strength is seen as a key to Steve’s legacy and the charity’s quest to continue growing and inspiring was among his final wishes.

GPW, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the SPF revealed this week that any runner entering the event on Sunday, March 9, 2014 will have their entry reimbursed if they can raise £120 via the justgiving.com website.

Gary Ward, GPW operations manager, said: “The beauty about the St Helens 10k is that anyone can do it.

“Someone who has never run before can get training and then have a go, or someone who runs every week can set their target of getting a great time.

“It’s a terrific event for us as a company to be involved in and it encourages our staff and clients to take part.

“Steve Prescott was such an amazing ambassador for charity – doing challenges healthy people would never think possible, never mind someone who was as poorly as he was.”

Gary, 31, a member of the St Helens Striders running club, has lost about four stone in weight since taking up the sport four years ago.

He said: “I’d never really run before but now I do marathons and trained for extreme events such as tough mudder.”

Register for the St Helens 10k at sthelens10k.com.