A HASLEMERE girl ran 5km around the Olympic Park in London to raise money for the Shark Trust.

Six-year-old Clara Page, who is a pupil at St Bartholomew’s School, took on her fundraising challenge on Saturday, November 27.

The week before, Clara selected a reading book from the school library called Sharks.

On the page entitled People and Sharks, Clara was shocked to learn that people use fin sharks to make soup, and that sharks are often caught in fishing nets.

Clara was desperate to do something to help, and so she decided to run 5km at an organised event, the Supernova Run, in the dark around the Olympic Park in London. Wearing glow sticks and a head torch, Clara raced round the course in just 39 minutes, and was presented with a certificate to adopt a shiver of Whale Sharks by the Shark Trust.

Clara said: "It’s not fair that people hurt sharks because they are endangered. I wanted to run 5km so I can raise money for the Shark Trust so they can save the sharks.

"I loved running in the Olympic Park, even though it was very dark and very cold.

"We had a great time and had a milkshake afterwards!"

Clara is collecting funds online via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clarasrunforsharks and has already raised almost £300.