Celebrity sportsmen helped fundraisers boost a charity for the terminally ill - with about £15,000 in donations.

Jockey Frankie Dettori and Manchester United footballer John O'Shea donated their kits to a charity auction in honour of horse-mad Sarah Magee, who died following a long fight against cervical cancer last year.

Mrs Magee, 32, from Manor Road in Wantage, spent the last three months of her life at Sobell House hospice in Oxford.

Pals and husband Jamie decided to raise funds for the hospice by running the final furlong - about 201 metres - of all 61 racecourses in the country.

Two runners, a navigator and an organiser were challenged to complete A Run For Sarah within one week. They trotted past the final post on Saturday, at Newbury Racecourse.

A silent auction, including the lots submitted by Mr Dettori and Mr O'Shea, was held at the racecourse the same day.

Mr Magee, 32, who runs a horse breaking-in service he started with his wife, is still collecting donations, but said the final total would be about £15,000. He said: "I think Sarah would have been embarrassed with all the fuss that's been made about it, but she would be overwhelmed with all the money that has gone to such a great cause. The care the hospice gives to families, and not just the patients, really touched a lot of people.

"I think it's just amazing when racing people come together for a good cause.

"A lot of people have been touched by what Sarah went through, and they were not afraid to put their hands in their pockets."

The money will go towards continuing care at the hospice.

Jackie Cairns, a nurse who treated Mrs Magee, said: "Everyone remembers Sarah and her family with much love and affection.

They brought a lot of joy to the hospice and her passing was a tragic loss.

"We are all really pleased that Jamie and her family have continued to support Sobell House and would like to thank everybody."

Jac Becker, also a nurse from the hospice who joined in the final furlong, said: "It reminds us just why we do this job."