A BOURNEMOUTH woman who has been crowned as Miss Dorset 2015 is running 10 miles to raise money for charity.

Romy Simpkins, 21, who lives in Queens Park, will be heading from Southbourne to Sandbanks this Saturday, August 1, in aid of Beauty with a Purpose, the cause created by Julia Morley, chairman and chief executive of Miss World.

She said: "I just want to get the message out that there is more to this than the pageants and the crown. It's about promoting positive wellbeing and people bettering themselves and other people.

"I think that my mum, Andrea, and dad, Mike, will be providing cycle support during the run, but it is just me doing it.

"Obviously people have been supporting me online and I think we have already got to £100 for the charity ahead of the Miss England finals on August 13 and 14.

Romy said that it was the first time she had applied for Miss Dorset and has hopes of opening her own children's nursery one day. She said that she was pleased to make it this far and added that she would recommend the experience of taking part in the competitions to anyone.

"I'm proud to be representing my county. Miss England is very well known and they have a big focus on charity work. I did a lot of charity work in my younger years. I now want to raise awareness of mental health issues, as it has focused a lot in the news recently. I have also registered as a bone marrow donor, despite being afraid of needles."

Romy is hosting a fundraising evening at Bar So on Exeter Road on Friday, August 7, from 9pm which is suitable for anyone aged 18 and over. Anyone who wants to support her bid to be crowned Miss England to text MISSENGLAND43 to 63333, which costs 50p per text.

For more information, go to Uk.virginmoneygiving.com/missdorset2015