York St John University Business School has raised more than £4,000 through its annual fun run around York Racecourse.

About 80 people took part in the race sponsored by the business school’s partners to raise money for their Securing Potential And Releasing Knowledge (SPARK) programme – an internal programme which offers funding to students. Donating businesses included Alternative Board York, Beautiful Meme, Big Ideas Collective, Success Story, The Healing Clinic, Simply Holistic, HSBC and The Partners Groups.

Participants had the choice of fancy dress for a competition judged by Brett Arnall, event organiser and development and alumni manager at the school.

Irma Gomez, the school’s development manager, who won the competition, said: “My friend Ruth and I went dressed as Mexicans because I am Mexican, and together we raised £290 towards the SPARK fund. We ran and walked for a total of two hours around York Racecourse. It was really good fun.”