The start of the Lake Vyrnwy half marathon in Llanwddyn. Pictures by Simon Williams

More than 1,200 runners braved hot temperatures to complete the 2009 Lake Vrynwy Half Marathon.

The event returned to the lake after a break last year, following the death of its founder and organiser Doug Morris.

Mr Morris’s family and friends and members of the community organised the race and finishers were presented with a medal on a ribbon enscribed with the words “Remembering Doug”.

Runners travelled from across England and Wales to take part in the 13.2-mile race, including about 70 members of Shrewsbury Shufflers and 30 Oswestry Olympians.

Other clubs taking part included Shrewsbury Road Runners, Whitchurch Whippets and Black Park runners.

Many people were running for charities, including the Severn Hospice, which had dozens of runners taking part. Family and friends of Becca Owen, the Llanfechain teenager who died in a road accident in Mexico four years ago, also took part in aid of the Becca Owen Memorial Fund.

And a relay event that raises money for a national cancer charity has been held in Shrewsbury for the first time, raising more than £25,000.

The 22-hour event saw 150 people from 12 teams take a turn at walking the course from Saturday at noon at London Road Sports Centre finishing on Sunday with a candlelit ceremony.

Relay For Life is a community event designed to celebrate those touched by cancer and raise money to support Cancer Research UK.

Event committee chairman Sarah Leese said they had been so impressed with the support they would be bringing the event to Shrewsbury next year.

Mrs Leese said: “It went really well. We’re pleased with the amount raised, it was absolutely fantastic. I’d like to thank the staff at the sports centre and all the participants and helpers.”

The survivors’ lap of honour for people who have beaten cancer was the first lap on Saturday.

In the months leading to the relay candle bags were decorated and dedicated to those in the community who have been lost to cancer and those who have survived.

The candles were lit in the evening and, accompanied by music, guests reflected on their experience of cancer.

By Sue Austin