HUNDREDS of runners are limbering up for the annual Darlington 10K Road Run, with many about to take their first steps towards fitness.

This year's event, sponsored by Sherwoods, will get under way tomorrow and is highlighting the importance of keeping fit and healthy, under the banner of The Northern Echo's Chance to Live campaign.

Darlington Primary Care Trust and Darlington Borough Council have joined forces with The Northern Echo to draw attention to the importance of preventing heart disease.

A Chance to Live was launched by the newspaper following the death of its deputy chief photographer Ian Weir, aged 38, and aimed to have more resources invested in coronary care.

The campaign is looking at promoting prevention rather than cure, with initiatives being introduced in the area to keep people healthy.

The run is an integral feature of that and organisers are putting the finishing touches to preparations.

The main race starts from Prebend Row at 10.30am and comprises two laps of a course that takes runners along Woodland Road, Carmel Road, Coniscliffe Road, ending in High Row.

The junior race, starting at 9.45am, is over 3.5km and the fun run, at 9.15am, is over 1.5km.

About 1,000 runners will take part in the main event and 200 in the fun run. The time to beat is 30 minutes, 21 seconds, set last year by Martin Scaife, who has won the main race for the past three years.

Primary care trust healthy lifestyles officer Ruth Brown said: "I have already seen a lot more people around town preparing to take part in the 10K and the fun run, which is brilliant.

"There is always a great atmosphere at the 10K and even if you are not taking part, we want as many people as possible to come down on foot to support it."

Lee Vasey, the council cabinet member for leisure, said: "It has never been so important to get the health message over to people.

"We need to remind adults just how much they can get out of exercise, both mentally and physically, and teach our children it is the best way forward."

Latest statistics show a 22 per cent drop in deaths from circulatory disease, from 164 people per 100,000 in 1998 to 128 in 2001.