PEOPLE of all ages and abilities came together on March 23 to take part in the first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games.

Their efforts have helped take the Sport Relief fundraising total to £53,370,743 so far.

The day kicked off with fundraisers cycling in the surroundings of Manchester United’s football stadium, while runners clocked up hundreds of miles in Manchester city centre.

Fundraisers also took the plunge throughout the weekend in the Swimathon at venues all over Manchester, including the Aquatics Centre.

Famous faces joined fundraisers to take part or cheer on participants, with Ricky Hatton, Danielle O’Hara, Darren Jeffries, Anthony Quinlin and Catherine Tyldesely all showing their support for Sport Relief.

Ricky Hatton said: “Sport Relief gets more exciting every year, and seeing the lengths some fundraisers have gone to today is just fantastic. Everyone involved should be so proud of the money raised so far, which I know will genuinely change lives for the better.”The crowds at the Mile and Cycle were entertained throughout the day by dance acts, a BMX display, a climbing wall and performances from groups such as the Manchester Community Choir and Panfire Steelband.

Around the rest of the UK, fundraisers from Brighton to Belfast took part in more than a thousand Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games events.

Sport Relief would like to say a huge thank you to each and every person who has fundraised or donated to Sport Relief 2014. Don’t forget to pay in sponsorship money at sportrelief.com.

Money raised through Sport Relief will be spent helping some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the North West, across the UK and around the world.