PINTS of ale and bouncy castles helped Dalgety Bay ‘Mums on the Run’ raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

The award-winning group took some of the proceeds from the Dunfermline Beer Festival and put it to good use, inflating their profits for charity. 

The 14 mums were taking part in Relay for Life in Dalgety Bay, the 24-hour event which raises money for Cancer Research UK. 

And they hit on the idea of using their beer money to pay for an inflatable fun day for children. 

Team captain Jacky Cameron explained: “We approached Dunfermline Roundtable to sponsor the event with an initial lump sum and other local businesses sponsored individual bouncy castles. 

“Whenever those in the team weren’t walking in the relay, they were expected to fundraise on the sidelines. 

“We sold wristbands for £3 which gave access to all the inflatables all day which kept people with kids at the event for longer.”

They raised more than £2,000 on their own but by investing their beer festival cash wisely, the crowds drawn in by their idea also boosted the takings on the other stalls. 

The money raised by all the teams at the relay totalled more than £88,000 for Cancer Research UK and the mums were given the ‘Fundraising Team of the Year’ award by Ross Cowie, chair of the Relay for Life committee, for their innovative approach. 

It’s the third year in a row they’ve won the award. 

This year’s Beer Festival takes place in the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8. 

Proceeds from the annual event – the Press is once again the media sponsor – are split between Dunfermline Rugby Club’s youth development and Dunfermline Roundtable. The latter then distributes the cash to various local good causes and charities every March.

Robbie Fyfe, chair of Dunfermline Roundtable, said: “The group approached us at our annual Dragon’s Den event with a good idea asking for £600. 

“It was great for us to have the opportunity to help another fundraising team take that amount and more than double it. 

“This is what fundraising should be about, making the most of any donation, and these ladies have certainly shown how it’s done.”

Beer festival tickets cost £10 in advance (£12 on the night) and are available at Dunfermline RFC, Pink String & Sealing Wax on Bridge Street, The Pars Shop at East End Park and Grill 48 on East Port. Online tickets are available at ticketweb.co.uk or call 08444 771000.