MORE than 3,500 people turned out to see some of the North West’s strongest men and women pull trucks at Burnley Football Club to raise cash for the Poppy-Mai childhood cancer fund.

The event on Saturday raised £4,000 in memory of the battling 17-month-year-old who lost her battle with the disease last month.

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Wayne Fulton, from the Burnley and Pendle Strongman events organisation company, said: “It was an amazing day.”

He organised the Turf Moor event after being touched by the story of Blackburn’s Poppy Mai Barnard and arranged for some the stars of the global sport to attend.

More than 49 contestants pulled a variety of trucks, including Eddie Stobart’s specially-made commemorative lorry, at the rear of the James Hargreaves Stand.

The winner of the men’s contest was Nick Redding with the women’s competition topped by Danielle Prout followed by Wayne’s 23-year-old sister Melanie in joint second.

International strongman stars Graham Hicks and Mark Felix were in attendance along with Poppy Mai’s parents Andy and Sammi.

Mr Fulton, 33 from Harle Syke in Burnley, had intended to take part but snapped a tendon in training.

The Poppy Mai charity project aims to open a camp/retreat site for other terminally ill children like her.

Many children who attended and contestants dressed as super-heroes for the event, the latest in a string of fundraisers for the charity appeal.

Mr Fulton said: “I was originally asked to help with another event in Great Harwood but the date clashed with something else.

“I read up on Poppy Mai and the charity and her story touched my heart like it has thousands of others.

“My mother Isabel and grandmothers Berry, who brought me up, both died of cancer and my 12 months old daughter Ella has the look of Poppy Mia.

“So I thought this it not just about Blackburn but families and children everywhere and decided to put on event in Burnley.

“I couldn’t believe it when 3,500 people turn up and we raised £4,000.

“It was an amazing day.

“Graham and Mark, who are regional, national and global superstars of the sport came and Graham put on a strongman performance.”