PICTURES: Run the Runway at Inverness Airport raises more than £60,000 for Maggie's Highlands cancer charity
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The last ever Run the Runway event also looks set to be its most successful outing.
A total of 310 people took to the runway at Inverness Airport at midnight last night to run or walk in aid of the Maggie's Highlands charity.
Providing support for people with cancer, their friends and family, all were represented in those who turned out to either walk or run 5km around the runway.
Maggie's Highlands fundraising manager Andrew Benjamin said: "It was an absolutely amazing night – and the biggest Run the Runway ever, not only in terms of the number of people taking part but also for the amount raised.
"The previous biggest ever total raised was £60,000 and early indications are that we are probably at around £67,000 for this year. With donations still coming in we will hopefully get to £70,000 once it is all done."
Despite appalling downpours for much of the region throughout the day, as if by magic things had cleared just as Run the Runway was about to get under way.
"It actually stopped raining just as the last plane touched down and it was a clear night for most of the run," Mr Benjamin said.
"The airport terminal where we gathered for the warm-up was just a sea of orange with people wearing their Maggie's Highlands tops, and the whole atmosphere was just brilliant.
"These are people who have had reason to use Maggie's themselves or have had family or friends who have and understand how important it is to support this wonderful charity.
"It was amazing and quite humbling to see so many people turn up for this."
Sadly 2023 marks the last outing for Run the Runway as the airport now has changing commitments.
But Mr Benjamin said it was hoped it would be possible to announce another event with the airport soon.
"I would like to express my sincere thanks to Inverness Airport as well as all our volunteers for supporting this event over the past six years and especially for making this year's our most successful outing," he added.
