An almighty 78 years was between the oldest and the youngest climber who took on the 384 stairs of St George’s Tower on Saturday for LOROS Hospice.
Nearly 400 runners and walkers of all abilities took part, with the oldest being 83 and the youngest participant aged just five.
Laura Denny, mother of the Tower Run’s youngest racer, Jennifer, of Houghton on the Hill, said: “I took part last year and every time we drive past, she asked when we could run up the Tower so we signed up.
“We raised more than £300 altogether and she already wants to do it again next year, along with her seven-year-old brother Jack.”
Also racing to the top were newlyweds Susannah and Gavin Hatton, who climbed the stairs in their wedding outfits, just one week after their big day.
The couple got hitched on Saturday 2nd March and wanted to complete the race in their wedding gear in memory of Susannah’s father, David, who died at LOROS at the beginning of the year.
Mother-of-one Susannah, 30, of Quorn, said: “People were asking me for my photo and congratulating me, it was quite funny.
“My legs were like jelly when I reached the top, I was glad to reach the top but I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
The wedding party, who have raised more than £1,200 so far also included Susannah’s mum, Erica, who was wearing her mother-of-the-bride dress.
Her older sister Naomi Hill and twin sister, Charlotte Coley, who were both in their bridesmaid dresses, also took on the challenge, as well as Susannah’s brother-in-law, Matt.
“I loved it and I would definitely do it all over again if I could,” added Susannah, who completed the climb in six-minutes-and-36-seconds with her new husband.
“It was amazing and a great achievement to kick off married life.
“I’m sure dad would have been up there, looking down on us having a good laugh.”
While two thirds of the participants were taking on their very first Tower Run, a good handful of runners were regular racers, with the fastest time to reach the top being a rapid one-minute-and-31-seconds.
The LOROS Tower Run, which is now in its fourth year, has grown around 10 times in size since 2016, when only 38 people took part.
The event, which also made its debut as part of the official World Tower Run Tour this year, has already raised more than £15,000 and with many runners still collecting sponsorship the team hope to reach £20,000.
“It’s amazing to see so many people, of all ages and abilities take to one of Leicester’s most iconic buildings to raise money for LOROS,” said Andrew Ward, Events Lead at LOROS.
“While the event attracts runners from across the globe, including Spain, Austria and Germany, to make the trip across the pond to take on the climb, no one has been able to knock the British winners off the top spot so far.
“Who knows, maybe we’ll see a different nationality clinch the title at our fifth anniversary event in 2020, I’m looking forward to the excitement already.”
The gallery of photos taken at this year’s event are available to view online at loros.co.uk/tower
