A FAMILY charity is to sponsor a hospice’s colour run.

Safe Families for Children UK, which was founded by businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Vardy, is supporting Colourama, a 5km run which will raise money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham City.

Participants in the Aykley Heads event, scheduled for Saturday, June 4, will be covered with powdered paint as they run.

Sir Peter said: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring Colourama which raises money for such a deserving cause.

“There are many synergies between our charities. St Cuthbert’s steps in to help families during life’s tough times and so do we so it’s the perfect event for us to get involved in.

“Not only are we sponsoring the run to help make it bigger and better than ever, but a team from Safe Families is taking part.”

Durham-based Safe Families recruits and trains volunteers to provide emergency care for children and support struggling families. It has so far recruited 2,500 volunteers and helped more than 1,400 children. It aims to help thousands of children and recruit 100,000 volunteers. For more information, visit safefamiliesforchildren.com

Organisers of Colourama hope 2,000 people will take part. For more information, visit stcuthbertshospice.com