A WEYMOUTH runner has kick-started a campaign to banish the booze for charity.

Lucy Wyman, 42, a member of the Weymouth parkrun weekly running event, has set herself a challenge to persuade other athletes to swap pint and wine glasses for teacups.

Cancer Research UK’s New Year fundraising campaign, Dryathlon, asks people to go on the wagon throughout January and give up alcohol.

‘Dryathletes’ pledge to drop the drink for a month and either get sponsored or donate the money they would have spent on alcohol to help beat cancer sooner.

Lucy is hoping to find some ‘Dryathletes’ during the parkrun group’s regular Saturday run.

Weymouth parkrun is a free weekly 5km event for runners of all standards, which takes place every Saturday at 9am in Lodmoor Country Park.

The parkrun is organised solely by volunteers and led by race director Michael Wilkinson with other regular runners including Michelle Kennedy and Kevin Archer.

Lucy, a teaching assistant, has set up a team called ‘No Winers’ and wants as many people as possible to sign up for Dryathlon before the New Year festivities get into full swing.

Lucy said: “I’m looking forward to it because it’s for a very good cause.

“I’m hoping I can encourage some more members of the Weymouth parkrun to join us.

“January is the ideal time of year to think about giving up the booze for a few weeks.”

Cancer Research UK launched Dryathlon for the first time last year when more than 33,500 people across the UK helped raise £4 million.

In the South West, almost 2,000 Dryathletes raised over £150,000.

Helen Johnstone, Cancer Research UK spokesperson in Dorset, said: “We’re thrilled Lucy is taking on Dryathlon and I hope she will persuade many others to join her. “We’ll be supporting our Dryathletes the whole way, by providing lots of motivational tips via our website, Facebook and Twitter.”

To sign up now and take on the Dryathlon in January, visit dryathlon.org