Camp Simcha’s 13 Royal Parks runners raised nearly £14,000 to support families coping with serious childhood illness.

Nine of the team Lee Bladon, Mandy and Danny Myers, Hannah Glass, Debbie Dawson, Jessica Neiss, Michelle Tarpey, Dan Kleinman and Debbie Colton – were running for the charity’s Evie’s Night Owls project to help Camp Simcha provide regular respite care to families who need it.

Camp Simcha ‘Big Brother’ volunteer Shalom Moise, Rebecca Cohen, Reuben Rodner and Tammi Phillips also ran to raise general funds for the charity.

Explaining his motivation for running, Shalom said: “I have been volunteering for Camp Simcha on retreats as a Big Brother for a little over two years now. It is truly awe-inspiring to see so many amazing families fight such unimaginable hardships, all with love and smiles that could light p the world. I have personally gained emotionally, mentally, spiritually and now physically! The more I help Camp Simcha, the more I feel the need to give back.”

Seasoned runners joined novices to finish the half marathon in times ranging from 1 hour 33 minutes to 3 hours 9 minutes.