THIS year’s half-marathon in Newport is expected to have raised up to £30,000 for St David’s Hospice, with thousands more raised for various other charities.

Although no official figures have been released, organisers hope the combination of sponsorship money, entry fees, and individual fundraising will raise in excess of £30,000 for the local hospice.

Around 1,300 hardy runners descended on Newport on Sunday, March 2, for the 2014 Newport Half Marathon, sponsored by Admiral and the South Wales Argus and organised by St David’s Hospice Care.

Other sponsors this year included Taylor Wimpey, Wilko, Newport council, Lliswerry Runners and Caerleon Runners.

Last year’s winner, Ryan McFlynn, 35, from Malpas, took the title once again with a time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 47 seconds after setting off from Rodney Parade at 9am, where former sprinter Darren Campbell, MBE, started the race.

Kris Broome, director of fundraising and lottery at St David’s Hospice Care, said: “It was fabulous – the feedback has been wonderful. We would like to raise £30,000 from this year’s event, although we won’t know what the figures are for sure for a few months yet.”