The Food Bank Run returned to Fareham for its 2024 outing

More than 100 runners from Fareham Running Club and Holly Hill Runners donned their trainers and set out from Fareham Leisure Centre to run carrying backpacks back to the brim with donations of essentials to Waypoint Hub Food Bank in Locks Heath.

The Food Bank Run initiative was co-founded by Sarah Donaghy and took on even more significance when she lost her baby girl Katie two years ago and found neighbours and friends stepping up to bring cooked meals to the doorstep for her and her family. 

READ MORE: Cancer researcher launches fundraising drive in mum's honour

She was there on Tuesday to continue to 'pay it back' as one of the organisers of the annual event. 

Mum of four Sarah told the Daily Echo: "The runners were so generous and the pile just kept on growing! It's the running community helping the local community!"

Food Bank Runs are taking place at more than 500 running clubs across the country in February and March. 

The first ever Food Bank Run took place in February 2018 when Sarah, and club secretary James Musselwhite, decided that a run with backpacks filled with donations for the local food bank would replace their usual training run. They were amazed when around 100 took part.

It became an annual fixture until the pandemic hit and the 2021 run could not go ahead.

When it returned in 2022, Sarah was recently bereaved and had been on the receiving end of the food parcels and decided to go big.

She phoned 3,000 UK running clubs and asked them if they could do a food bank run themselves and hundreds said yes. 

Last year, Food Bank Runs nationwide donated more than 77 tonnes of supplies - including tinned food, pasta and toiletries - to food banks in their communities.

With ever more need and a best charity initiative of the year award at the National Running Show in January under their belt, the Food Bank Run movement is aiming even higher this year.