Mark warms up for ultimate charity marathon (From The Northern Echo)

Mark warms up for ultimate charity marathon

A MAN dedicated to running for the hospice that cared for his dying mother is facing the ultimate challenge.

Long run: Mark Allison

IT contractor Mark Allison, 35, of Shotley Bridge, plans to run from one end of the UK to another this summer. Mr Allison has raised about £14,000 for St Benedict's Hospice in Sunderland since 1994 with Coast to Coast runs, two New York Marathons and a host of other runs.

Now he is in training to run 900 miles from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End starting on July 23.

He will have back-up from family and friends and hopes to cover 23 miles a day. He said: "My mother Marjorie died of cancer in 1995 and she spent her final days in St Benedict's. I have always wanted to do a John O' Groats to Land's End run - it feels like I will be going downhill - and it will be like the Coast-to-Coast multiplied by six or seven times."

To sponsor him visit the website www.markallison.com and follow the link to Justgiving.