A RECORD turnout helped this year’s Run Frimley raise more than £60,000 towards a dedicated breast unit at Frimley Park Hospital.

Now organisers are gearing up for their next big fundraiser – Tour de Frimley, a 1,000-mile cycling challenge.

About 2,000 people took part in Frimley Health Charity’s 10km road race and 2.5km fun run on Sunday, May 1, - 300 more than last year.

The success means the charity’s Breast Care Appeal is edging closer to its target of raising £750,000 by October.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Frimley Park Hospital, will match every pound raised up to £750,000, creating a £1.5 million investment for a 3D mammography machine and dedicated unit for the 6,000 people who use the hospital’s breast services every year.

Sally McLaren, Frimley health charity fundraising manager, said: “Thank you to all our staff, runners and volunteers who helped to ensure the 11th Run Frimley was such a success.

“We are always amazed by the enthusiasm and generosity of everyone taking part. They are all playing their part in helping to improve services for breast patients at Frimley Park.”

Meanwhile, plans for the fourth Tour de Frimley are well under way.

On August 27, 16 cyclists and support crew – including hospital staff and members of the public - will leave Frimley Park for a 1,000-mile ride across northern France.

Supported by 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, they will be visiting some of the famous battlefields of the two world wars.

The cyclists hope to raise more than £30,000 for the Breast Care Appeal.

Tour de Frimley organiser Chris Barrett, a stroke data analyst at Frimley Park, said: “We achieved a staggering £27,000 in 2014 with 15 cyclists so I’m sure £30,000 is well within our reach.

“This would also tip the total raised from cycling for the Breast Care Appeal to more than £100,000.”

To donate online visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Christopher-Barrett3 or to give £5 by phone text ‘TDFR74 £5’ to 70070.