Miranda Hart was the star guest at a Bocking mum’s charity Gallopathon which raised more than £10,000.
Red Nose Day producers filmed the comic opening Saturday’s mile-long gallop - with no horses allowed - with a hearty ‘ready, steady, go!’ on Hampstead Heath athletics track.
Richard Curtis, Comic Relief founder and Love Actually director, joined 150 fundraisers and did his best horse impression round the track.
Emily Turnham, 30, of Peter Taylor Avenue, came up with the Gallopathon idea after Miranda’s last show aired on New Year’s Day.
She originally made a vow to herself aged 22 that she would raise £1,000 for Comic Relief before she turned 30.
The Hampstead Heath event raised £10,485 after Mrs Turnham arranged it within just two months while on maternity leave with her five-month-old baby, Harrison.
After creating a group on Facebook, the popular idea took off nationwide and more than 30 Gallopathons have now been organised for Comic Relief.
For the full story, see this week's Braintree Times.
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