A KEEN young fell and cross country runner has dreamed up a winning image to adorn a 10th anniversary marathon medal. 

Eight-year old Freddie Dixon’s creation will appear on thousands of medals presented to those who complete Brathay Trust’s Windermere Marathon on Sunday May 22, 2016. 

The Hawkshead School pupil comes from a family of runners who support the event’s marathon participants every year, and said he was pleased and excited to win the school’s design competition. 

His medal celebrates the tenth anniversary of Brathay’s full marathon and 10 in 10 challenges. 

Paul Dewar, owner of the Stan Laurel Inn in Ulverston, will be one of the runners tackling ten laps of Windermere in ten consecutive days next May. 

He visited Hawskhead to present Freddie with a plaque bearing his design, a gift token and a torch, while showing the school’s youngsters medals from his 2012 challenge. 

Brathay’s Sarah Thompson, who co-ordinated the competition with Hawkshead School, said: “Every year Hawkshead School children come out to cheer on the 10-in-10 runners, who pass their school each day. Their enthusiasm and support has a huge impact on the runners at time when they really need that morale boost. 

“It’s been wonderful to have their help again in designing a special anniversary medal. The children created the designs in their art lessons and, as a result, we had more than 20 great entries to choose from. Freddie should be really proud of his winning design.” 

Hawkshead head teacher, Joyce Hallam, explained that it was important for pupils to get involved in community events to learn about making a difference and to develop their citizenship skills. 

She also said the youngsters are keen on PE and sports activities, and the school has several very good runners. 

The Windermere Marathon events series, Brathay’s flagship fundraiser, has so far generated more than £1million to support the charity’s work with vulnerable children and young people. 

Praised for its friendly marshals and dubbed ‘the Beautiful Marathon’, it is an anti-clockwise 26.2 lap around Windermere lake taking in Hawkshead, Newby Bridge, Bowness and Ambleside. 

Those who sign up by Monday January 4 will qualify for a money saving early bird offer. 

Visit www.brathay.org.uk for more information or to enter.