The third annual Clifftop Challenge, which is staged in aid of the Breast Cancer Now charity, takes place today.

Joint organisers Chantele Rashbrook and her father, Mike Griggs, have had to close the list at a total of 180 competitors, who will be taking part in one of five different-length races along the Kent and Sussex coastline.

It is the highest number of entries ever.

The longest, a 55-mile Ultra Run, started from Hastings at 2am today, which Chantele's husband Phil is doing.

There will also be a marathon, starting from Folkestone, a 15-miler from Capel-le-Ferne, a 10-miler from Dover seafront and a 5-miler from St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe – all finishing at Walmer Green.

Chantele, who lives in Middle Deal Road, said: “We couldn’t cope with any more than 180 competitors this year but we are hoping to make it even bigger next year.”

And the 45-year-old, who herself has breast cancer, added: “We raised a total of £30,000 for the charity in the first two races (2014 and 2015) but this year we are hoping to raise £20,000 in just Saturday’s race alone.”

Chantele was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and, after undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was given the all-clear in 2014.

But within a year she was given the devastating news that the cancer had returned and since then the mother-of-two has been taking a drug called kadcyla.

She said: “Things are going well. The kadcyla has shrunk the tumour right down and, as long as it stays small, I am happy to stay on the drug.

“I have been fortunate enough to have had great treatment, and to get the drug I am now on, thanks to the money that people donate to charities like Breast Cancer Now, and doing this one big event every year just spurs me on to keep fighting the illness.”

Chantele is a keen runner herself and organises her own club, Rashbrook’s Runners, a group of around 25 women who go running twice a week.

She said: “Before I contracted breast cancer I wanted to do more off-road running and I came across a website called ‘Spartan Races’, through which I made contact with a guy called Mark Wood who lives in South Carolina.

"We have kept in touch ever since and, after I got the breast cancer, Mark said he would love to do something for the charity.

“Eventually we came up with the idea of asking him to do a sponsored run from Hastings to Deal.”

This year’s event will also feature runners from the USA, France, Belgium and Holland.

There will also be a seven-hour music festival and a charity auction.

Leading the way from 12.30pm is the Kingsdown Band, followed by singer Rozzy Turner at 2pm, who appeared on BBC's The Voice last year.

The Antiques Roadshow Band will close the show from 6.15pm.

Mike Griggs, who lives in Clanwilliam Road, said: “The day is still primarily about the Clifftop Challenge but the other events we are putting on as well, like the free music festival, are a way of saying thank you to the local community for all the support they continue to give us.”