Nuns go on the charge! Park spectacular for children's charity

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Oct 27, 2008

Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter

A NUN run; but you won't find a real nun among them!

About 50 people got into the good habit of racing through Huddersfield's Greenhead Park dressed as nuns to raise money for the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust.

Some men were even spotted wearing women's underwear!

Men, women and teenagers took part in the charity run in the event yesterday morning.

Ken Oldfield was one of many men to dress up.

The volunteer from the Foresters' financial services section, which organised the event, said: "It's just a fun way for us to get together and raise some money for a good cause."

The trust's head of fundraising, Karen Dineen, said: "It's such a wacky event and that's what fundraising should be about, having some fun and doing something for a good cause.

"They all looked great dressed as nuns and it's a fantastic way to get people together and support the trust.

"What's best about it is that people don't have to run, they can walk, or come along with their dog or even take part in a wheelchair."

Some of the teenagers were dressed as cats, while the women wore full-length habits.

Judith Oldfield, who helped to organise the event, said: "It's such a fun thing for us to do and it's certainly a sight to behold on a Sunday morning seeing so many people dressed as nuns running about a park."

But it was the men who grabbed the attention and second glances as they ran round the park dressed in basques, stockings and suspenders while wearing the nun's traditional black and white headscarf.

People from Calderdale as well as Huddersfield took part in the run.

The trust, which aims to build a children's hospice at Brackenhall, is now looking ahead to its Christmas fundraising events, which includes a concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on Wednesday, December 10.

Tickets cost pounds 5 and are available from the trust office at Oakes or by visiting www.forgetmenottrust.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

NUNS AWAY: Runners leave the start line on the nun run in Greenhead Park (AC261008Anun-14); BASQUE-ING IN GLORY: Owen Denniss (left) and Chris Wilson from Honley's Railway pub (AC261008Anun-04); BLESS YOU: Blessings are given before the start (AC261008Anun-10)