A GROUP of hairdressers are hoping to cut it at their first organised run after signing up for the Leigh Community 10K to raise money for a hospice that is close to their hearts.

Husband and wife Darren Swift and Gemma Farrimond, who own Sgt Barnets on Railway Road, will run alongside staff members Matthew Alexander, Louise Greenall and Millie Bolton in the inaugural event on Sunday, August 13.

The town centre run will raise funds for Wigan and Leigh Hospice, where Darren's mum Margaret Swift died of cancer at the age of 65 in October.

Her husband Alan Swift, 69, and Sgt Barnets clients Rachel McLean, Lisa Tobin and Karen McCully complete the salon's team for the 10k.

The team has already raised more than £1,500 through sponsorship.

Gemma, who says the family will be forever indebted to the Hindley hospice for the level of care it gave Margaret during the six days she spent there, said: “The hospice is a cause that is really special to us so we have set up a running club in preparation for the 10k because none of us are runners.

"We were all starting to get into a bit of fitness at the beginning of the year, so when this event came up for Wigan and Leigh Hospice we just said ‘right, let’s sign up’."

The team has been getting put through their paces by Leigh Leisure Centre trainer Becky McLorie in preparation for the event.

Anyone who wants to join the team and raise money for Wigan and Leigh Hospice’s Counting on Care appeal to modernise its Inpatient Unit and make it dementia-friendly is invited to go along to their training sessions at Leigh Sports Village from 6.30pm on Mondays.

Gemma, 36, added: “We want to raise as much money for the hospice as we can.

"To have a hospice so local and to be able to get there instantly was so important for Darren and I because we were visiting Margaret three times a day.

“We turned up at all times and it was never an issue with the staff.

"It was such a relaxed place and we wish we had got her in earlier for her quality of life.

“Unless you have been through something like that you don't appreciate how special a place it is.”

To make a donation towards the team's cause call into the salon or visit justgiving.com/fundraising/sgtbarnets.

To sign up for the Leigh Community 10k got online at leigh10k.co.uk.