About 250 women and men donned eye-catching and outrageous lingerie for dashes in Douglas, Ramsey and Castletown in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

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Almost £4,000 was donated by amused spectators, with runners' sponsorship money yet to be counted and Peel due to hold its bra dash on Saturday (May 2).

That puts organisers well on their way to beating last year's total of £20,000 raised from all four events.

More than £64,000 has been raised through the dashes over the past four years, all of it going towards vital research into breast cancer.

In Douglas, 160 runners were entertained by the Hediya Arabic Dance Club before being given their starting orders by Mayor Dot Pitts, followed by race commentary from Manx Radio DJ Chris Williams.

First to finish was last year's winner Neil Wade, who received a cup and certificate.

His Marks & Spencer team-mates were dressed as TV's directory inquiries runners but with numbers marking M&S's 125th anniversary this year. They were named best dressed team and picked up £100 from Halifax Bank of Scotland and chocolates from Shoprite.

The best dressed adult was Brett Venables of CMI, who won a pink Samsung mobile phone from Manx Telecom for his Dolly Parton costume including a blonde wig, checked shirt and lots of padding.

Ten-week-old Ellie-Rose Quayle, enjoying her first bra dash, received a £10 toy voucher when judges awarded her best dressed child for the bra draped over her pram.

Other unmissable entrants were the Shoprite gang in bright pink wigs, and Chris Burns, owner of the Cookie and Candy store on Peel promenade, who was dressed as a pantomime Christmas tree.

In Ramsey, 50 participants and spectators were treated to a performance by the Ramsey Grammar School samba band before the race was started by Ramsey MHK Anne Craine.

Manx Radio DJ Alex Brindley judged the fancy dress competition, won by teenager Matthew Curphy, who turned up in a Hawaiian outfit complete with leis and a grass skirt.

Matthew and his brother Adam were inspired to join in because their aunt has just returned to the Isle of Man after being treated for breast cancer at Clatterbridge Hospital.

The best team prize went to Ramsey Grammar School students Elizabeth Stanley, Katie Christian, Sarah Allen and Jilly Christian, who created a giant bra covering them all just hours before the race.

The best dressed boy and girl were four-year-olds Ben Corkill and Zoe Peel.

The Pacific feel was continued by the men of the Hawaii Five Uh-Oh team sporting coconut bras and even lipstick.

There were some fantastic fundraising efforts too. Jill Higgins raised £840 for taking part in both the Ramsey and Douglas dashes, while friends Sonia Corrin and Jess Daugherty made £120 together.

A total of 40 underwear-clad fundraisers took part in Castletown's bra dash, once again organised by the Castletown Ale Drinkers' Society.

The race was started by former chief minister Sir Miles Walker, while Lady Walker judged the fancy dress competition.

Joanne Sansbury was named best dressed for her pink tutu and wig combo.
Members of the Southern Young Farmers Club – sporting wellies, flowers and ivy – were judged the best dressed team.

Four-year-old Ruby Traynor won the prize for best dressed youngster, stealing the judge's heart with her sheep costume with a sign reading: 'I thought you said baa dash!'.

Organisers thanked HBOS, Shoprite, Manx Telecom, Robinsons and the Red Cross for their help.

For more information about Peel's bra dash, starting at 10.30am in Market Place, contact organiser Ian Baker on 201039. To download a sponsorship form, go to www.bradash.com