A near record-breaking number of participants, including former X Factor contestant, Katie Waissel, braved the showers to take part in Moor Park 10k and Fun Runs on Sunday 22 September.

The popular event, which this year also included a ‘March for Mount Vernon’ 5k walk, took place at Merchant Taylors’ School and was opened by Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE CStJ.

1,272 entrants, including those from 71 different schools, signed up to the event to raise funds to support patients at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood which treats patients from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and north London.

Katie Waissel, who was a contestant on The X Factor in 2010 and has since founded her company, O.W.H.L., to revolutionise safety in the creative industries, went along to the event to support her son, Hudson, taking part in the under 7s fun run.

Katie said: “My six-year-old son, Hudson, is passionate about giving back to the community and wanted to take part in the run to thank Mount Vernon Cancer Centre for looking after a close friend of the family so well during their treatment.

“Hudson is such a sweet, kind soul, and I’m incredibly proud of him for raising £270. Both of us want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated, all the participants, as well as Active Training World and East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity for hosting this event for such a worthy cause in our community.”

Eloise Huddleston, charity director said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came along, despite the forecast of storms, to make this year’s event one of the best.

“We were incredibly lucky with the weather with the rain holding off for the children’s fun runs and then just a shower during the 10k.

“We work alongside the brilliant clinical teams at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to try and make things a bit easier for people who are facing treatment for cancer.

“We’re delighted to have raised an amazing £60k which will help us provide items such as scalp cooling caps which reduce the risk of hair loss due to chemotherapy; improvements to outside spaces so that patients and staff can spend time relaxing in the fresh air and complementary therapies to help patients and their families cope with the physical and emotional impact of cancer treatment.

“Thank you again to everyone who joined us at Moor Park and helped make a difference for patients at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.”