The Duke of Rothesay has marked the launch of Sport Relief 2014 by starting a race around the Scottish mansion he saved for the nation.
Prince Charles was joined by Scottish X Factor finalist Nicholas McDonald for the launch of the Dumfries House Sport Relief Mile yesterday.
About 100 young people from local primary and secondary schools and Sport Relief-funded projects set off on the run, which took them around the Dumfries House estate in Ayrshire.
Those wanting to take part in this year’s Sport Relief can choose to run, swim or cycle on the weekend of this year’s Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games from March 21 to 23. Events are taking place at more than 1,000 locations around the UK, including at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to help people living difficult lives, both in the UK and across the world.
Prince Charles led a consortium which bought Dumfries House and saved it for the nation in July 2007.
The house and estate have been developed as a visitor attraction and the prince visits it several times a year.
The runners at Dumfries House also included Alex Jones and Matt Baker from BBC’s The One Show.
Before sounding the klaxon to kick off the first Sport Relief Mile of 2014, Charles said: “I do hope that all of you taking part will have some very good exercise and perhaps some considerable relief by the time you reach the end of the mile.”
Jones said after the run: “It was really quite refreshing to run this morning with all these young people, to do it in such nice surroundings, and to be the first to do the mile for Sport Relief 2014.”
Baker said: “Prince Charles did warn us about the potholes and he was right, so he’s obviously been out and set the course.”