ORGANISERS are aiming to sign up 2,200 runners for next year's GPW Recruitment St Helens 10k – and hope the event will help break the £1m fundraising barrier for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

Sunday, March 6, 2016 will see the sixth staging of the event, which has grown steadily since its inception in 2011 when 686 completed the race. In 2015 more than 1,700 took part.

More than 200 have already put their names forward for the event, launched on the Steve Prescott Bridge by Linzi Prescott, son Koby and runners.

"The whole ethos of the race is that anyone can run it. I know lots of non-runners and are now runners because of entering and training for this race," said Gary Ward, operations director at sponsors GPW.

"The race has inspired hundreds of locals to take up running over the years, for that reason this race needs to be applauded. I can’t wait to run it for my sixth time."

Chairman of the Steve Prescott Foundation Mike Denning added: “The St Helens 10k continues Steve’s philosophy of improving the health and wellbeing of our community.

"We would like as many people as possible to sign up for the SPF and help us surpass the landmark of £1m mark in donations since 2007. We'd like to thank all the athletes and GPW Recruitment for their continued support.” Visit www.sthelens10k.co.uk for more information.