Yesterday we were honoured to be able to join in with the first ever Fitmums Headscarf Hustle across the Humber Bridge- a fun and friendly 4-mile run/walk.

The event was organised jointly by Fitmums & Friends and Headscarf Pride, and as well as being a great opportunity to get active, the event was also a fundraiser. A portion of the entry fee was donated to the Headscarf Pride campaign for a statue in memory of Hull's Headscarf Revolutionaries – the four local women who campaigned to improve safety at sea after the Triple Trawler Disaster of 1968, and who saved countless lives as a result.

The day threatened to start quite miserably with rain falling and forecast for most of the morning, but we went along hopefully, and were rewarded with a break in the rain just as we were planning to start dancing. We danced our first dance-out of the year for a growing audience of stalwart runners and walkers, all of whom were very appreciative of our efforts.

 A group of us had planned to join in with the run/walk and received the complimentary pink headscarf which we each wore with pride under our usual headbands, amazing ourselves at how much like our mothers we now looked!

At 9.40 am, Emma Hardy MP gave a rousing speech to the participants, and then, after a mass warm-up, the event was officially started by Look North’s very own Peter Levy wearing his very own pink headscarf. (Incidentally, he very politely declined to join us for our free workshop this week but did take a leaflet in case he changed his mind!)

The brave bunch of BGDs set off last in their BGD dresses, BGD fleeces, and of course their BGD bright red tights. Our original intention had been to dance across the bridge in procession fashion, but this was deemed too dangerous, and we realised why when we got out into the middle of the bridge and felt the strength of the wind. Indeed, my own headscarf was wrenched from my head by one icy blast, and was last seen bouncing across the 4 lanes of traffic into the hands of a bewildered passerby on the other side of the bridge.

 Nevertheless, we did attempt a few dance steps and skipped a fair portion of the walkway (especially when we came across anyone wielding a camera!). And our impression of Judy Garland and friends skipping down the yellow brick road was quite uncanny!

We passed the runners and faster walkers on their return journeys, and clapped and encouraged each other, receiving lots of compliments about our dancing on the way. Then we reached the halfway mark on the Lincolnshire side of the bridge and turned round to battle back against the icy rain which had now started to fall.

For some of us this had been our first experience of crossing the bridge, and it was made all the more memorable when we got to the end and realised that not only had the organisers waited for us, but they also cheered and clapped as loudly for us as for the first people to cross the line.

 We even had our individual names shouted out over a tannoy by the brave and resilient organisers who were sitting on the finish line with a soggy list of participants. We then received a bag of sweets as a reward for taking part and were photographed within a huge pink frame.

All in all, it was very enjoyable and memorable event. The organisation, support and friendliness from the Fitmums team was incredible, and we are hoping that some of them might join us at a practice night. Who knows… maybe next year, if our antics have enticed any other Fitmums & Friends join us, we might have many more runners in red tights and BGD fleeces skipping their way across the bridge!