AN annual PaintRush has added gloss to fundraising for Manorlands.

The event – staged at a new venue, Bradford and Bingley Sports Club – raised £13,000 for Sue Ryder, the charity which runs the Oxenhope hospice.

Around 700 people – individuals, families and teams of work colleagues – took part in the extravaganza, organised by the Riddlesden and East Morton Manorlands Fundraising Group.

Participants ran, jogged or walked around a five-kilometre course, whilst getting covered in brightly coloured paint powder.

There were also obstacles to negotiate, and a team from AB Jetting sprayed entrants with pressure washers.

In addition, activities were staged by Whitakers Animal Feeds, which provided a bale run, and members of the Bingley Bees Rugby Club, with a ‘tackle bag gauntlet’.

The PaintRush was sponsored by McNally EV and Acorn Stairlifts.

Amongst those taking part were colleagues from a number of businesses and organisations, including Acorn Stairlifts, the Willow Tree Inn at Riddlesden, Worth Valley Young Farmers Club and AWB Charlesworth.

Following the event there was music, food, ice creams and a bar.

Andrew Wood, community fundraising manager at Manorlands, says: “PaintRush is a bright and colourful way to kick-off the summer and everyone got very messy and showered in every colour of the rainbow – just as they should!

“I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to our event sponsors McNally EV and Acorn Stairlifts, Bradford and Bingley Sports Club – which generously hosted the event for the first time – and all the other organisations and volunteers that assisted on the day.”

Manorlands supports patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.

All services are free to patients and their loved ones, but it costs over £10,000 a day to keep the hospice doors open.

Only a small part of the cost is covered by statutory funding.

Most of the funds have to be raised through voluntary donations.

Sue Ryder stages a wide range of fundraising events and challenges throughout the year.

Next month sees the return of the popular Manorlands garden party.

It takes place in the grounds of the hospice on Sunday, July 9, between 1pm and 4pm, and features a host of attractions.

For more details about Sue Ryder events, visit sueryder.org/events.