Several hundred students from Singapore Polytechnic pounded the streets around their campus on Wednesday in a fun run for charity.

Organised by the polytechnic's Business School Club, the Friendship Run together with a flea market last year raised a total of $10,000 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF).

The money raised will go towards providing pocket money for children and youth from low-income families.

More than 400 students signed up for the 5km run, paying $8 each to register.

Corporate sponsors VSL Singapore, Zheng Keng Engineering, Running Lab and the Tote Board also contributed donations, and 14 runners from specialist contractor VSL joined the run as well to show their support.

The management committee started planning for the run in April last year, and it is the club's largest event so far.

Club president Emmanuel Ho, 18, a second year International Business student, said that the aim of the event was to give fellow students a chance to serve the community. "We wanted to do something so that students can commemorate friendship while helping other youth."

Ms Martina Wong, general manager of SPMF, said: "It's heartwarming to see such a big contingent of young people gearing up for this Friendship Run and bonding in raising funds for SPMF."