A KIND hearted team of runners and cyclists have formed a network to help raise money for Yorkshire charities. Kate Liptrot reports.

THEY may not look exactly like Fairy Godmothers but they are as good as.

White Rose Sport is a network of people of all sporting abilities who take part in challenges - from the gruelling to the relaxed - to help improve the lives of others by fundraising for Yorkshire charities.

Their endeavours all started last year when Bubwith-based personal trainer Barbara Shiells helped train a team of 20 first-time marathon runners as they prepared for the York marathon.

The most famous of the runners, although not a novice marathon runner, was York news presenter Harry Gration, who joined them in training and went on to complete the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon.

Impressively the runners raised £18,000 between them and it was decided they needed to continue with their efforts.

Now they have all joined White Rose Sport with some new additions.

Barbara Shiells said one of the greatest parts of training for and running in the marathon was the team spirit.

"The team bond throughout this challenge of a lifetime was incredible," Barbara said, "There was always someone ready to run at the same speed as you, chat to you, encourage you and make you believe it was possible.

"We all got on so well and when you have an experience like that you are bound together."

She is keen to encourage more people to join and emphasised the team of all ages from 23 to 65-years-old was made up of people of varying sporting abilities.

"It's open to everybody and anybody who wants to do a challenge at all," Barbara said, "They can join for one year or become more heavily involved.

"We're all based in Yorkshire and we thought we wanted to keep it nearer to home in terms of the charities we support.

"We have had lots of people say they want to learn to run so I said 'why don't you become a member and we can take part in training runs?'"

White Rose Sport - which works in partnership with Jane Tomlinson Appeal team for the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon - said its next big challenge is the Way of the Roses bike ride, a 170 mile ride between Morecambe and Bridlington .

It is also entering teams in Total Warrior, a 10km race with punishing obstacles along the way, triathlons and other events and the Yorkshire Marathon.

For more information visit http://www.whiterosesport.co.uk/