Students show almost naked ambition to raise money for charities

Dec 18 2008 by Paula Owens, Liverpool Daily Post

Students from Edge Hill University taking part in their charity dash _320

SEMI-NAKED men and women yesterday stunned shoppers as they raced round the streets of Ormskirk town centre.

Runners braved the bracing 7C temperatures in bikinis, trunks and beach towels for the charity dash.

Students from Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, stripped off to raise money for a number of charities, including Cancer Research, Tourettes Research, North West Ambulance and Motor Neurone Disease.

The one-and-a-half mile event, entitled Almost Nude, began at 1pm at Disraeli’s wine bar in Church Street and ended at the St Helen’s Road campus of Edge Hill.

Organiser Mark Whitby, a strapping 6ft tall student who plays for the university basketball team, was dressed in only a multi-coloured string bikini for the annual run.

The third-year primary education student said: “This is the third time we have held the event and it gets bigger all the time.

“Last year, we raised more than £500 and this year we hope to beat that by reaching more than £1,000.”

Angela Samata, from Edge Hill University, said: "The enthusiasm and good humour shown by staff, students and local Ormskirk residents during the run today was outstanding.

"Everyone at the university would like to say congratulations and well done to all those that took part."