Twenty-six communal and Israel charities are the beneficiaries of the £100,000-plus raised by over 1,000 participants in the biggest Maccabi GB Community Fun Run, held on Sunday in Elstree.

Runners from toddlers to a 77-year-old completed, one, five or 10 kilometre courses at the Haberdashers' Aske's School. They included Fychi Dresdner, 20 - one of a 25-strong Norwood contingent - who was in a wheelchair pushed by her foster mother Judy Meshulam. Ms Dresdner, from Golders Green, has Rett syndrome, a regressive disease resulting in profound and multiple physical and learning disabilities.

She was placed with the Meshulam family after her mother died when she was five and her father moved abroad.

Her foster mother said that "Norwood has been phenomenal and taking part in the fun run was my way of saying thank you for everything they have done.

"It was great to be part of such a lovely event. Fychi loved seeing all the people in costumes and had a smile on her face all day."

The heat was too much for the ‘furry camel’

BBYO national director Philip Peters and tax analyst Jamie Freed completed the 10k race in a cow costume in one hour 29 minutes, raising £1,200 for Maccabi.

"There were times we didn't think we'd make it round," said Mr Peters, 24. "Our friends in the 'furry camel' gave up on the outfit after a few minutes. However, we didn't want to let our supporters down.

"We didn't really understand how 'fun' and 'run' could be used in the same sentence but it really was a great day out. The atmosphere was terrific and we felt a great sense of achievement."

Jami service user Simon Jacobs, 29, from Southgate, ran alongside his father Raphael, a retired software engineer.

"I ran last year too and really enjoyed it so I thought I would run again," Simon Jacobs said.

"I ran five kilometres, which was just the right amount, and even though it was hot, I had a lot of fun."

Maccabi GB's Daniel Morris, the event organiser, said "the sun shone on what was the best community fun run to date. To see so many communal charities working together is unique and this event really is one of a kind.

"The event just gets better and better and planning is already under way to beat this year's record in 2011."