The chosen charity for this year’s Bassingbourn Half Marathon is one that is close to the race director’s heart.

Brainstrust was picked as the charity by Fit4Challenge director Ash Hawkins, who lost his father to a brain tumour over Christmas in 2013 after a three-year battle.

Ash said: “I chose Brainstrust as the official charity because it doesn’t receive the same level of support or funding as other cancers.

“As well as a percentage of race profit being donated to Brainstrust, I am hopeful that runners who sign up for the race will also run for the charity.

“My courses always include off-road sections, beautiful scenery, sometimes a bit of mud and the odd hill which, remember, goes up as well as down.

“There is still plenty of time to sign up!”

For more information on the race – which takes place at 10am on Sunday, July 5 – and to book your place visit www.fit4thechallenge.co.uk. You can find out more about the charity at www.brainstrust.org.uk.

The event took place for the first time last July, attracting a field of 230 runners from across Herts, Cambs and further afield.