Hundreds of runners will be hitting the road from Millport later this month for the Fantasy Island 50 2012 run, raising money for Parkinsons charities - and more participants are needed!

The date for your diary is Saturday 15th September, starting from Millport, with runners taking on between one and five laps of Cumbrae, with a lap measuring 10 miles. Joggers, runners and elite athletes are all welcome to join the event.

The Fantasy Island 50 organising team was set up in June 2011 by four friends, brought together by a passion for running and a general enthusiasm to fit into a smaller dress size each, while raising money for Parkinsons charities.

The basis of their fundraising activities is rooted in the concept of a running club, which culminates in the Fantasy Island Fifty run around the Isle of Cumbrae. All proceeds from the run are donated to Parkinsons causes through the newly formed Parkinsons Charity Michael's Movers.

The run starts from Millport promenade, and numbers can be collected from the Town Hall from 7am, with start times on the hour from 8am, and water stops at three and seven miles.

There’s a £25 registration fee for runners, no matter what distance they’re tackling, and all finishers receive a goody bag, t-shirt and medal.

Over 80 runners took part in the 2011 run which raised £14,690. The cash was distributed to Parkinsons causes including donations to Parkinson's Scotland, Dundee Ninewells Neurological project, equipment to Victoria Hospital's Parkinsons Unit, 50" screen television to the Southern General hospital day room and a weekly social afternoon for Parkinson's sufferers and carers.

The event team are Maria Righetti, daughter Natalie, and friends Anne, and Natalie Rogers Maria's husband Michael was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1990 when only 30 years old, and is the inspiration behind  Fantasy Island 50, which created as a result of Maria wishing to do something special to mark her 50th birthday! 

You can find out more about the Fantasy Island 50 2012 run here on the event website. And you can email info@fantasyisland50.com

Good luck to the runners! Will you be joining in, or supporting the run? Post your comments and messages here on s1millport