Tonight in Saundersfoot sees the first Footstep run and it is sponsored by Frank B. Mason, estate agents.

This is a charity fun run where the community spirit is overflowing and it’s where locals gather ‘en masse’ at the slightest excuse. There will be achievable distances for all - a children’s race at 6.30 pm, the youngsters being able to run the half mile course clear of traffic as the road from the Hean Pub junction through the Strand will be closed for traffic. At 7 pm for those 14 years and over there is a leisurely one-mile run or a more challenging three miles.

For the really adventurous, like Yvonne Uka, a five-mile jaunt.

The course will take in The Strand, Coppett Hall, the tunnels along to Wiseman’s Bridge and the path to and through the Heritage Park at Stepaside. We will be harnessing the London marathon spirit with a plethora of musical entertainment at various points along the course.

Local band ‘Westbound’ will be performing outside the Hean Pub, with ‘Footbridge’ performing at the end of the Strand.

No village festivity is complete without fancy dress runners, but this is optional.

The Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff has teamed up with our event and kindly donated pairs of tickets for the run. Highest sponsored runner, best female fancy dress and best male fancy dress are categories. Also four tickets for the best team fancy dress. Children don’t miss out and best boy and girl fancy dress gets you a family day out at one of Pembrokeshire’s leading attractions, Hanger 5 and Folly Farm. Registration will be open on The Strand at 12 noon today (Friday, July 20), when you will be given your running number.

We’ve already signed up over 100 businesses, from the butcher (Mark Heywood), the baker (Colin and Emily), the real ale pullers (Dai, Ollie, James, Jason, Ross and Von), the local landlords, to the frothy coffee makers (Debbie, Kim, Cath and Yvonne) and all others, young and old will be donning their sneakers and abandoning their sofas to flood the village for the feel good factor. A mass participation event organised by the community, for the community and you will be able to say, ‘We were there.’

For all participants of the Footstep Run, parking is available at the sports field, Saundersfoot.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the FBM Holidays Tenfoot Swim starts at Tenby North Beach at 11 am. This is the second year we have organised this endurance swim between two great communities, Tenby and Saundersfoot, hence the name, Tenfoot Swim.

We have increased the number of swimmers this year to 300 and have also increased the number of kayaks, paddle boards and boats, along with Wiseman’s Bridge rowing club, for whom we are extremely grateful. The buzz from last year was that all the swimmers felt safe and that the safety personnel were always on hand to assist. The swim starts at 11 am and will proceed to Monkstone beach where they will exit the water to be checked by the doctors and also to take on water and jelly babies before proceeding through the channel at Monkstone point and heading towards Saundersfoot beach.

On the top of the slipway, they will be presented with their well-deserved Tenfoot medal from the Mayor of Tenby and the chairman of Saundersfoot Conmmunity Council. Thanks also to Mike Evans and Ross Barnes, of the Harbwr Bar and Kitchen, Saundersfoot, who have kindly agreed to feed all swimmers with their award winning cawl after the swim at the pub.

Registration is at the sailing club, Tenby, from 8 am to 10 am tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, there will be a charity band night at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, where three local bands will be performing live on stage. First up at 8 pm will be Footbridge, followed by Country and Western outfit, Westbound, with Tenby’s, Collective finishing off the night’s entertainment. This is a ticket only event for all sponsors, volunteers, committee and benefitting charities as well as swimmers and businesses signed up for the run.

The whole purpose of these events is to raise money for three worthy charities that we have chosen to support, Paul Sartori, Pembrokeshire’s only hospice at home service, Wales Air Ambulance and the Dai Rees Foundation which provides pre-hospital emergency care training to communities around the world.

The committee would like to thank all the marshals and volunteers who’ve made it all happen, along with thanks to organisations such as Saundersfoot and Tenby Sailing clubs, Pembroke paddlers, Tenby Surf and Rescue, Ann Alison and her team of doctors who are travelling from Cardiff to assist. Appreciation to Broughton Leisure for sponsoring the medals for the runners and to Big Brums for sponsoring the medals for the swimmers.

This still wouldn’t be possible without our main sponsor FBM Holidays and our local Harbour Commissioners who have supported us from the very start.

Special thanks to the Saundersfoot and Tenby Harbourmasters. Thanks to FBM estate agents, FBM Holidays, Safe Electrical, Pembrokeshire Tyres Tenby, 1 Formula Fitness, Big Brums, Tenby Taxis, Mike Wealleans UPVC specialist, Hanger 5, Saundersfoot Bay Caravan Park, Scaffold 2000 Ltd, NBSM New Broad St. Motors, Barry, Andrew Price, John Rothery, JOP, Broughton Leisure, Tower Gate Insurance, TRJ, Proseal, W. D. Lewis, Aberdare Ltd, Harbwr Bar & Kitchen, Little & Large Lite Bites, Silver Lily, Boston House, Listers, Stephen Cole Investments, Sursum, Harbour Lights Guest House, Mavericks of Tenby, Pro Waste, Pembrokeshire Wealth Management, Martin Woodhall, Saundersfoot Spar, Boat House, The Lounge (Saundersfoot & Tenby), Hope & Anchor Inn, Tenby, Equinox, Dilys Photography Gallery, Sign Box, Heritage Park, Hean Castle Estate, Dragon Event Catering, Ashmole & Co, James E. Smith, Timber, Tesco (Saundersfoot & Pembroke Dock), Folly Farm and Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.