APPROXIMATELY 900 runners will complete a lap of England's biggest lake on Sunday in the annual ASICS Windermere Marathon.

Starting at Brathay Hall, entrants will complete 26.2 miles as they take in Lake District hotspots including Windermere, Bowness, Newby Bridge, Hawkshead and Ambleside in a bid to raise vital funds for a children's charity.

Proceeds from the event, normally topping £100,000, go to the Brathay Trust, near Ambleside, which aims to improve the life chances of disabled and disadvantaged young people and their families.

The ASICS Windermere Marathon, on Sunday, also coincides with the end of the Brathay 10 in 10 challenge. This year, 16 athletes signed to up to 10 laps of the route in 10 days to help boost the funds raised for the charity.

This challenge was devised by academic and Brathay Fellow Sir Christopher Ball. He was 72 when he ran the first 10in10, having only begun running five years earlier.

Ninety-four people have run the 10in10 at least once and, in doing so, they have raised over £1million for Brathay’s ground-breaking work with young people.

Race director Scott Umpleby said the popular marathon was continuing to grow as it entered its 11th year.

"The real distinctive element of it is how scenic it is," he said. "It was voted the most scenic marathon by Runners World, and it's also challenging which people look for in a marathon. There's 1,500ft of ascent.

"From a fundraising perspective the amount of income it raises for the charity allows us to do much more work with young people and the key is this income is unrestricted. It allows us the freedom to decide which programmes we can put it towards whereas other sources are restricted.

"The other aspect is the brilliant support we receive from the local community, particularly the parish councils of Hawkshead and Claife where most of our road closure infrastructure is."

Further information about the runners, video clips as well as donation and event details can be found at: www.brathaychallenges.com

Send your photos from the ASICS Windermere Marathon to jack.brookebattersby@nqnw.co.uk