To promote the upcoming Robert Owen Communities 5K charity fun run a trio of sponsors got into character - by donning Victorian adventurer costumes and setting up shop outside Truro Cathedral, which is on the new route.

Chartered accountancy firm PKF Francis Clark have sponsored the ROC fun run for the past three years, and Scott Bentley, Jason Mitchell and Anthony Meehan volunteered to help promote the race.

This year's charity run will take place on June 27 and participants will be raising funds for ROC Wellbeing, which is now part of United Response, a charity which supports vulnerable local people with learning disabilities.

While Truro's Lemon Quay piazza remains the start and finish point of the race, the new route takes in the Newham side of the Truro River and the historic city centre including the Cathedral, the Royal Cornwall Museum and The Leats.

The charity organisers are hopeful for another sell out event with 650 people of all abilities, and disabilities, taking their places on the start line.

Scott Bentley, partner at PKF Francis Clark, said: ‘It is important to support the communities in which we work and earn a living, supporting ROC in this way is part of that.

"We have an established after work running club, which grows sharply in number and interest when The ROC 5K comes around, especially with people who do not consider themselves to be runners.

"Indeed the firm tends to enter the largest team, last year almost 40 runners turned out, a third of our work force.

"With a new route this year I think interest from among our staff, runners and marshals alike, will be even higher."

Anthony Meehan, who co-ordinates the firm’s running club and designed the new route, said: "The existing route has served us well for the last three years but after a second successive sell-out of the event, we had reached the limit on numbers.

"Given the hills around Truro, it was quite a challenge to find a new, flat and truly inclusive route that takes in both Newham and the historic city centre, and I am delighted to commend the new route to both runners and non-runners alike."

United Response’s Calvin Lovelock said: "My thanks go to PKF Francis Clark for their phenomenal support for ROC Wellbeing services and The ROC 5K.

"With a new route, this year’s entry limit has been raised to 650 and with it, the potential to become one of the largest events of its type in the West Country.

"People of all abilities, and disabilities, can run, jog or walk The ROC 5K."

The funds raised by the ROC 5K will support ROC Welcome, a vibrant social opportunity for local people with learning disabilities which is based at Truro College.

The club, one of the largest of its kind in the country, is entirely dependent on voluntary donations and the ROC 5K, which raised £17,000 last year, is the club's most important source of funding.

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For more information please visit unitedresponse.org.uk/ROC5K2017