Home-Start York have entered a cart in this year's Micklegate Soapbox Run It's an amazing event and a wonderful opportunity for us to raise our profile and raise money too.

The annual event on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, sees amateur daredevils ride self-built contraptions down one of the city’s steepest hills, launching themselves from a 6 metre ramp.

The city centre race, now in its third year and already a firm favourite

with locals and tourists alike, was the brainchild of Shelagh Garside, a former Micklegate business owner, who wanted to restore it to its former glory and get the attention she felt it deserved.

The Micklegate Business Initiative is now co-chaired by Julian Smith, who runs Number 84 sandwich shop with his wife, Sarah, and Mark Allinson of Artful Dodger. York BID is this year’s main sponsor.

The event is run by volunteers and can cost more than £40,000 to put on. However, according to official figures, last year’s event attracted 20,000 spectators to the area and brought an estimated spend of £1.2 million into York.

As well as the race, the day offers fairground rides and a display of supercars by the river, which proved hugely popular last year.

Bands The Mothers and These Jaded Streets will be performing and food and drink stalls will be provided by local businesses, including Micklegate Social, Gibson’s, Rattle Owl, Partisan, Skosh, Old Siam, The Whippet Inn, Luva, Teajuanas, Artful Dodger and Brewdog, which is currently displaying its own race entry inside the pub.

Other companies signed up to take part include Nestle, York Maze and reigning champs Digital Image Ltd, which will have the honour of kicking off this year’s proceedings.

Julian Smith said: “It’s a fun family day with tons of stuff to do and see and some great food, so bring the kids along. Last year’s Run was amazing, with not one bit of trouble.”