FUNDRAISERS showed their true colours to overcome a rainbow of obstacles for a much-loved hospice.

Hundreds of entrants lined up over the weekend for the first St Teresa’s Colour Run, at Longfield Academy.

More than 430 individuals tackled a course of ten inflatable obstacles, to raise money for St Teresa’s Hospice, on Woodland Road, Darlington, which saw them splattered from head to toe in a rainbow of coloured paints en-route.

The inflatable challenge event, the first of its kind in Darlington, was sponsored by Charles Clinkard and supported by Darlo Radio, Snap Fitness, Drive Vauxhall Darlington, Darlington Rotary, Glenwood Paint Supplies, MT Print, Physique Fitness and Sherwoods Durham with goody bags provided for all entrants by Darlington Building Society.

All funds raised will help to support St Teresa’s Hospice, which provides free care and support for those affected by life-limiting illness.

St Teresa’s events manager Scott Marshall said: “Our Inflatable Colour Run Challenge evolved from our annual It’s a Knockout competition and we are really pleased with the amount of entrants that have signed up.

“Thanks to sponsorship from Charles Clinkard and Darlington Building Society we have already raised over £6,000, and that is before we have counted individual sponsorships, so we are hoping to exceed £12,000 in total for the whole event.

“Longfield Academy has been fantastic in allowing us to use their facilities and providing us with parking and course marshals helping us to create a fabulous event and raise an incredible amount for the hospice.”

All participants were provided with paint pouches and received a certificate on completion of the challenge.

Jane Bradshaw, chief executive of the hospice, said: “I’m delighted that our first ever Inflatable Colour Run Challenge has been a big success, with hundreds of participants and dozens of spectators getting involved and getting covered in paint to support their local hospice.

“Events like this really bring the community together and it’s that community support we rely on so much to raise the more than £3m needed each year to keep providing vital free care and support to residents of Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.

“We are immensely grateful to our principal sponsor, Charles Clinkard, and also to Darlington Building Society and the many other local businesses.”