HUNDREDS of youngsters put their best foot forward yesterday with their families to help raise vital funds for charity.

Children from across East Lancashire took part in the Pendleside Hospice’s Little Hospice Heroes walk.

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The event, aimed at children under 12, involved a sponsored three-mile route around Towneley Park in Burnley, which saw around £20,000 raised for the Colne Road hospice.

More than 300 youngsters donned their trainers, assisted by a team of 40 volunteers and marshals, to beat last year’s total of £15,000.

Pendleside Hospice is a registered charity that cares for and enhances the quality of life for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses on a daily basis.

Dad-of-one Richard Hutchinson, 31, from Barnoldswick said: “A group of eight of us took part including my 22-month-old daughter Freya who lost her mum Nicola to cancer last year.

“We really enjoyed the event and I think it was very well organised.

“This is the first time that we have taken part and I think that it is a great way to raise money for the hospice and get people of all ages involved.”

Trawden resident Nick Thompson, who took part with his children Maisie, five, Max, two, and Jamie, four, said: “Everybody has had a great time and everything has been organised by the hospice very well.

“There were a lot of things for the kids to do alongside the walking which was great.”

Pendleside Hospice needs £3.8 million to run each year.

Sammi Bracewell, a fundraiser at the hospice said: “Everybody had such a good time and it was a real success.

“It’s amazing how much we have managed to raise and we could not have done it without so many people signing up and taking part.

“The team of volunteers were on the go since 6am and they have all be fantastic.

“We held this event for the first time last year and people really enjoyed it so we thought that we just had to hold it again this year.

“Everything went off really well and the children seemed to enjoy themselves as they walked around the route.

“We have other events that are aimed at older people so this is a nice event which can get children under the age of 12 to take part.”