Canal Street got all revved up on the 24th January for its very own drag race – but these queens were running on heels not wheels!

Canal Street’s ‘ladies’ pulled their Sport Relief Socks up, donned their deeley boppers and made a dash down the world-famous parade of gay bars in the heart of Manchester city centre to stage their very own version of the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile – with a glitzy twist!

The drag racers, a very talented bunch of female-impersonators, cabaret performers and comediennes, were warming up in preparation for the Manchester Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday the 25th March where thousands of runners are expected to run one, three or six miles around Manchester city centre.

Belinda Scandals: “I’m not in the habit of running in my heels but I thought I’d make an exception for Sport Relief and add a bit of sparkle to the campaign! Me and the girls have had loads of fun today and we can’t wait to get our lycra on for the big run in March!”

The risk of twisted ankles and broken fingernails was high but the girls bravely stepped up to the challenge and put their all into the race, bringing some Canal Street glamour to the Sport Relief campaign. On-lookers were partially blinded by the glare from ten be-sequinned frocks and glittery deeley boppers flashing past and there were tears and screams of triumph at the finish line as the Sport Relief Queen Miss Sugar claimed glory.

This year, over one million people are expected to pull up their Sport Relief socks and take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile to raise vital funds for vulnerable people across the UK and the world’s poorest countries. Enter the Manchester Mile, or one of dozens of Mile events happening all over Greater Manchester, right now atwww.sportrelief.com.

North West