RUNNERS tore round a park to help others thousands of miles away in one of the world’s poorest countries.

Some 90 runners took on a 10km course to raise money for conservation and community work in the Indian Ocean state of Madagascar.

The run in Stanmer Park on Sunday morning raised cash for Tree Mad, set up to plant and protect forests on the island as well as provide education and healthcare.

Hayley Gibson, 37, from Tongdean, said: “I have set up a Just Giving page and I also want to raise awareness.

“Five per cent of all existing wildlife and plants is there [in Madagascar], which I think is amazing.

“I did the Brighton marathon a couple of years ago, and I love wooded areas.”

Lou Bateman, 44, from Holingdean, took part both despite of and because of a major injury.

She said: “I broke my leg very badly about one year ago and now it has lots of plates and pins in it, so I am trying to rehabilitate myself by taking part in lots of organised events. It it still a little bit painful.”

Organiser Josh Coppersmith-Heaven, 29, from London, works with Tree Mad’s parent charity Feedback Madagascar.

He said: “The reforestation project is very important and the charity also supports communities.

“The turn-out is good – it is what I expected. Everybody turned up.”

Feedback Madagascar says it has improved the lives of tens of thousands of Madagascar’s poorest families.

Its work includes building schools, running health, education and literacy projects, setting up rural industries, and planting and protecting hundreds of acres of forest.

Tree Mad leaders say they hope to plant three million trees on 3,000 hectares and expect to “save 30,000 lives” including through health and education projects.