Runners have continued to sign up for places in the first ever Brighton Marathon in their hundreds.

Organisers yesterday said almost 3,000 of the 12,000 places on offer for the inaugural event on Sunday, April 18, 2010, had already been snapped up and they were being overwhelmed with interest.

The race's website, www.brightonmarathon.co.uk, has been deluged by visitors since entries went live on Tuesday morning.

Organisers of The Argus Appeal yesterday renewed their calls for as many people as possible to run the 26 mile race in support of the charity.

The appeal, run by The Argus, helps dozens of causes in Sussex every year and relies on donation and support of people in the county.

Argus Appeal co-ordinator Elsa Gillio said: "There are so many reasons for people to take this chance to raise funds for us.

"What we do is so varied that it is sometimes difficult for people to associate with but that is why it's so important.

"We aren't like a cancer or specific illness charity where you instantly know what they do.

"We work to help people who don't necessarily get support from those groups but badly need someone on their side."

She said the appeal planned to enter its own team of runners and was looking for members. It also wants entrants to select it as their choice to receive sponsorship.

Ms Gillio said the strongest reasons to run for The Argus Appeal could be seen in some of the causes it had recently helped.

They include 17-year-old Luke Godfrey, from Carden Hill, Brighton, who is quadraplegic, has cerebral palsy and needs 24 hour care.

The appeal came to the aid of his family after the Godfreys asked for help. It paid £500 for Luke to be taken on a three-day trip to Euro Disney.

This week the charity has provided help for a 36-year-old father-of-two from Crawley who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A £1,000 donation will enable him to make crucial alterations to his home to give him comfort.

Another family in Brighton has recently been given funding for their six-year-old son, who suffers with brain condition Hydrocephalus, to spend a week at a holiday camp, providing them and him with a respite break.

The appeal also backs local hospices St Michaels and The Martlets and has regularly intervened to help families in emergencies – when they have been victims of fires or other disasters.

Brighton Marathon organiser Tim Hutchings, a Commonwealth Games medallist, yesterday said he was delighted by the number of entries for the race.

He said: "My great hope was that we might make it to 1,000 in the first day. We got way beyond that and they are still going fast. I expect things will slow but we're hoping for a steady uptake through the summer months."

Runners will start in Preston Park and wind their way around the city to the finish line in Madeira Drive on the seafront.

Mr Hutchings said he was now working on the possibility of the marathon including an elite race for some of the top European runners.

He hinted that Steve Cram may soon join Olympic gold medallist in endorsing the race and said Peter Andre had signalled an interest in supporting the event.

Would you be keen to write a blog about your preparations for the race? Call Jo Wadsworth on 01273 544775 or email jo.wadsworth@theargus.co.uk.