TV celebrity Carol Vorderman had the simplest of countdowns to launch this year's Run for the Future at Clifton Down.

The maths genius, who lives near Bristol, helped to set off the 700 men, women and children on the charity run on Sunday, counting down to the start before Lord Mayor Chris Davies blasted a piercing horn.

The 5km run, organised by Bristol Rotarians, aims to raise £40,000 for the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal.

Carol, who launched the appeal eight years ago, ran in the event for the first time, helping to raise funds for research into a disease that claims the lives of more than 10,000 men in Britain every year.

A minute's silence was held before the start.

Lining up amid the sea of white-T-shirted participants was Julie Nottage, 44, a sales manager of Stoke Bishop, who was running with husband Paul, 46, an engineer, and sons Daniel, 10 and Luke, six.

Julie said: "We think this charity doesn't get a lot of profile but it is a good thing for men."

Paul said: "A friend of mine had a scare so it brought it home a bit to me how worthy the cause was."

Dominic Millar, 48, a company director of Julian Close in Old Sneyd Park, was running with wife Philippa, 45, and children Jack, 12, Frannie, 10, and friend Lucy Waldren, 10.

Dominic said: "I want to try to get a greater awareness for cancer in men. I've run for the last three years and this year it is with all the family. We are hoping to raise £500 in total."

Runner Michael Kenyon, 61, retired, of Longwell Green, said: "I'm hoping to raise as much as I can. I lost an uncle with it and my friend is having an operation at Southmead Hospital today.

"I ran years ago but I've done no training so I reckon it will take me 45 minutes."

Dressed as smurfs were Alex Wallis, 32, an estate agent of Strathmore Road, Horfield, and Kevin Parle, a banker with Lloyds TSB from Frenchay. They were joined by friend Matt Ashley, 30, a lawyer with Bristol-based firm Osborne Clark.

Alex said: "I was drinking cider last night but I think the other two have done a bit of running."

The Lord Mayor said before the start: "This is a fantastic effort by the organisers, runners and stewards. On behalf of prostate cancer sufferers now and in the future I'd like to thank all the runners for the funds they raise.

Run for the Future, sponsored this year by Spire Hospital, raised more than £100,000 in its first two years.

The money is funding a joint research project between the Bristol Urological Institute at Southmead Hospital and the University of the West of England into early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Organiser Ian Beattie said: "It went very well, we had 125 people sign up on the day so we had around 630 taking part in total.

"We don't know how much money we have raised yet but we would estimate between £30,000 and £40,000, which would bring the total over the three years we have been doing this to between £130,000 and £140,000."