Otley’s Town Mayor has officially launched the countdown to this year’s Sport Relief weekend.

Councillor Pam Gill (Lab, Manor) joined supporters and fundraisers at the town’s Sainsbury’s store – the company is one of the biennial charity’s prime sponsors – for the event on Friday, February 28.

Run by Comic Relief in association with BBC Sport, Sport Relief encourages people of all ages to get involved in sponsored sport-based activities, including its trademark Sport Relief Mile, to help vulnerable people in the UK and around the world.

This year’s preparations will culminate in three action-packed days, from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23.

Sainsbury’s sponsors the Sport Relief Games, as well as selling merchandise for the charity.

Otley employee Michelle Holland also has her own fundraising challenge in the pipeline – a walk up England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike in the Lake District, on April 6 which she hopes will bring in a further £500 for the cause.