A 26-MILE trolley dash has helped raise awareness of poverty in Notts.
The event took place yesterday and included four shopping trolleys and more than 40 people travelling to food banks across the area.
Part of the dash was used to officially open a new Hope food bank at the Meeting Place, Nottingham Road, Stapleford.
Mother of three Mel Hall used the Beeston Food Bank twice last year and is now helping promote the work of Hope and the new centre.
The 41-year-old of Ryecroft Street, Stapleford, said: "It got to the point where we had no food and I went without to feed my 16-year-old son, Gary Barnaby.
"The pain in the stomach that you get from going hungry is almost unbearable and you start to feel really sick.
"I had a lot of different problems and went to Citizens Advice who referred me to the Beeston Food Bank.
"We were so grateful and without the food bank we would have starved."
Last year 120 people from Stapleford were given food packages in Beeston.
The Meeting Place is the sixth food bank opened by Hope Nottingham.
Director Nigel Adams added: "In the past 14 months we have given out food to more than 2500 people which is roughly 1000 packages.
"We are expecting this number to rise because people are finding themselves in desperate situations more often. We are working on opening a food bank in every part of Nottingham and this Stapleford branch goes a long way towards that.
"This trolley dash has had so much support which we are very grateful for because it helps raise awareness of real problems affecting thousands of people."
The food bank will provide emergency food supplies for three days in exchange for vouchers, obtained from front-line care professionals, such as health visitors, social workers, church and community workers.
Hope Nottingham and Trussel Trust, the national food bank charity, organised the push which included giving out leaflets.
Deputy mayor of Broxtowe Borough, Iris White, officially opened the Stapleford food bank.
She said: "It is shocking that we need food banks but this one is ideally located and we already know that many people will have no choice but to come and seek help.
"People are really suffering and need help and I welcome anything that works."
The Stapleford food bank will be open between 10am and noon on Tuesdays at the Meeting Place and between 10am and noon on Thursdays at the Haven Church in Antill Street.
A further food bank is expected to open in Carlton on Tuesday, April 30.
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Visit thisisnottingham.co.uk to see a video of the trolley dash.
