Olympian, European gold medal winner and founder of the Great North Run Sir Brendan Foster performed the honours at the 132nd Barnard Run, which is staged every year at Barnard Castle School.
The historic event, and the ‘Barney Bash’ qualifiers, involves every pupil of the school from age four to 18 and raises thousands of pounds for charity.
This year, to mark headmaster Tony Jackson leaving the school next July, he was persuaded to compete in the Barney Bash in fancy dress raising even more money for a good cause.
The total raised so far is £4,000 which will be donated to the charity CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young.