Here is a great chance for serious athletes and fun runners to compete in one of Brighton's top events, and raise money for charity.

A field of at least 2,000 runners of all ages and abilities are expected to take part in the Sussex Beacon Half-Marathon next year.

The Argus is teaming up with local radio station Juice 107.2 to help promote the event.

We will cover the race, take lots of pictures and print the name of every single finisher, provided they have registered correctly.

We will also preview the event in the run-up to the big day.

The 13-mile race will be held along Brighton seafront on February 24, 2002 Organisers hope to raise £20,000 for the country's only national care centre for people with HIV and AIDS.

Among the runners will be members of Arena 80, Brighton and Hove and Phoenix 80, who are all backing the half marathon.

It starts at 10.30am from The Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive. The route goes east towards Hove Lagoon before heading back to Rottingdean and then the start.

The route to Hove Lagoon is flat but the second half includes two sets of steps, the first at the entrance to the Marina and the second on the return from Rottingdean to St Dunstans.

St Johns Ambulance will be on the course at Hove and Rottingdean.

The Beacon, opened in 1992, offers care programmes for sufferers that include complimentary therapies, psychological and social support, plus specialist HIV and AIDS nursing care.

This fund-raising opportunity comes at a time when the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in this country has reached an all-time high. It relies heavily on donations from the public.

How to enter If you are a BAF affiliated member the cost is £8.00. If not it is £9.00, or you can simply enter on the day for £10.00.

Please make all cheques payable to The Sussex Beacon.

Fill in the entry form below, then send it with your cheque and a large SAE (min 9in by 6in) to Margaret Clayton, Race Secretary, The Sussex Beacon, Bevendean Road, Brighton BN2 4DE.

Now it is time to start training for the big day and what better way to shed those excess pounds put on over Christmas. So the best of luck!

Call The Sussex Beacon on 01273 694222 with your race enquiries.

Visit the website on www.sussexbeacon.org.uk.

Beacon email address is: tprior@sussexbeacon.org.uk.