LOCAL businesses teamed up to create a charity fun run with a difference – a Christmas chicken dash.

Staff from Fitness First and The Sports Centre joined forces with Nando’s, in Festival Place, Basingstoke, to organise a four-mile run to raise money for Naomi House Children’s Hospice and Sport Relief.

Runners who completed the route, between Fitness First, in Stag Oak Lane, Chineham, and The Sports Centre, in Festival Place, had the added incentive of plenty of free food from Nando’s at the end of the run.

The route saw around 20 enthustiastic runners pass through Popley, Oakridge, South View and into the town centre during the morning race, with the first runner completing the route in just 25 minutes.

Charlotte Fardon, sales and marketing manager at Fitness First, said: “It’s quite unusual that competitors in the fitness industry collaborate, but we really want to come together as a community and make a difference to the lives of those who our donations will support.

“This is the first chicken dash and I’m sure we will be running the event again. It was a big success and everyone who took part really enjoyed themselves.”

Peter Coleman, marketing manager at Nando’s, said the event was a “great community get together”.

He added: “Doing it for children’s charity Naomi House and Sports Relief is so rewarding.”