IPSWICH went Sport Relief crazy over the weekend, with Blues boss Jim Magilton leading the charge when 2,500 runners converged on Portman Road.The Ipswich Town managed turned out with darts legends Bobby George and Keith Deller and Olympian and Ipswich sports ambassador Karen Pickering to run around Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium.

IPSWICH went Sport Relief crazy over the weekend, with Blues boss Jim Magilton leading the charge when 2,500 runners converged on Portman Road.

The Ipswich Town managed turned out with darts legends Bobby George and Keith Deller and Olympian and Ipswich sports ambassador Karen Pickering to run around Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium.

Fundraisers braved the cold and the rain to take part in runs of one, three or six miles yesterday morning while the Suffolk School of Samba kept them in high spirits.

The runners joined tens of thousands of people across the country who took part in 200 events to raise cash to help vulnerable people here and abroad. Together they and fundraisers throughout the UK raised more than £19million for Sport Relief.

Anna Capleton, one of the Ipswich organisers, said: “It's gone well despite the rain. Lots of people have turned out.”

Mr George, who lives in Ardleigh, Essex, said: “I've not been put off by the weather. It's cold but running will keep me warm.”

And Ms Pickering said: “It's a shame about the weather but it's not stopped people having fun.

“My family lives in Ipswich and I'm very proud we have one of the runs here.”

Several other fundraising events took place in Ipswich.

Former France and Newcastle United pin-up David Ginola came to Portman Road for a coaching session with children, including Jamie Boor, 12, who has autism.

The session was part of Ability Counts, an Ipswich Town initiative which specialises in helping disabled children.

At EDF Energy Networks more than 100 staff took part in a series of challenges for Sport Relief.

Workers at the company's Fore Hamlet offices took part in several 'sporting' challenges on Friday - including a Scalextric electric car race and a 'keepy-uppy' contest.

At Otley College about 300 students and staff raised about £300 when they took part in a one-mile run.

John Nice, college spokesman, said: “We were happy to support the event, which encourages people from across the country to do something sporty whilst raising money to support vulnerable people.”

Meanwhile workers at a flat roofing company donned orange hats and T-shirts to take part in the runs.

Fifteen staff from Bauder, based in Broughton Road, Ipswich, aswell as partners and children, including a two-year-old and a 16-month-year old, ran or walked the one mile or three mile events yesterday.

About 200 staff from Ipswich firm Call Connection, an insurance based call-handling company, as well as family and friends, donated their time to take donations from the public during the Sport Relief programme on BBC1.

Graeme Kalbraier, managing director, said: “The evening was a real success and a testament to the great team we have here.”

Staff also ran 50 miles on a treadmill and three male workers had their legs waxed.

Ipswich's St Joseph's College held a fancy dress St Trinians hockey match at Northgate Sports Centre which raised £200 for Sport Relief.

Did you do something unusual for Sport Relief? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk