More than 500 runners are set to descend on Marlow’s athletic track this month for a 24-hour relay in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Following last year’s successful fundraiser the Handy Cross Runners will host the mammoth run at the Little Marlow sports track from Friday, June 17 to Saturday June 18 from 7pm.

So far around 600 people have signed up – double last year – and the mayor of High Wycombe is expected to complete the last leg of the challenge.

However organisers are hoping to not repeat the rows leading up to last year’s event, after angry residents hit out over the council’s decision to allow the floodlights to be used through the night.

Craig Atkins, from Handy Cross Runners said: “This is the second year we have done it. We just wanted to help charities really by running.

“We have got young and old people, obese people, we have someone with one leg. It is a really good mix of people taking part.

“The only reservation I have is the residents and if they decide to protest. But it is just one night a year, we’re using low level lighting and we gave the police on standby if we do need them.”

The race is raising money for three charities – Children’s hospice the Pepper Foundation, disability charity, Arctic One Foundation and Wycombe Homeless Connection.

Marlow FM will be keeping families entertained throughout the day and anyone can enter the raffle – which includes the top prize of two businesses class BA tickets anywhere in the world.

The deadline to enter teams in to the relay is Friday, June 10. For more information go to http://handycrossrunners.co.uk/wordpress/?page_id=2020