FRIENDS who set out to raise £20,000 for charity and run the Bath Half were not deterred by the snow.

Despite not being able to reach Bath and the cancellation of the race, the 20 friends raising money for Helen and Douglas House, who have been helping 18-month-old Olivia Kershaw from Malmesbury, put on their running shoes.

Olivia was infected with a parasite called toxoplasmosis before she was born, and the chances of this happening are one in every 100,000. It caused inflammation in her brain and eyes, causing irreparable damage, including reducing the capacity of her liver.

The group, which includes Olivia's parents Simon and Bex have raised over £29,000 for Helen and Douglas House. Friends ran their own half marathons up and down the country, with some even running it in Singapore.

Her Dad, Simon, said: "It was a real shame the Bath Half was cancelled, but the group ran a half-marathon wherever they were around the country, including in Singapore.

"Five people did it on a treadmill together and some did it outside in the snow.

"We were doing it for our sponsor's despite the cancellation."

Alison Hooker from Helen & Douglas House said “I would like to say a massive thank you to Simon, Bex and all their friends for still running the half marathon miles despite the snow and the cancellation of the Bath Half Marathon – they are amazing.

"They have raised a phenomenal amount of money which will make a huge difference to the lives of families with terminally ill children who are cared for by Helen & Douglas House. We would not be able to do this without fantastic supporters like Simon, Bex and their friends.”