A RUNNER is going the extra mile for a children's charity as he aims to complete 12 gruelling challenges in 12 months.

Stephen Fawkes has already tackled eight tough challenges for Action Medical Research, including The Mighty Deerstalker in the Scottish Borders, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and a Tough Mudder race.

Now the 39-year-old from Langley Park, near Durham, is preparing for his ninth: the Great North Run on Sunday, September 11.

He said: “As I turn 40 in December, I decided I needed to prove to myself that there was still some life in the old dog.

“I set myself a challenge: the Dodecathlon, 12 challenges in 12 months.

"I’ve managed to break two personal bests so far, in the North Tyneside 10k and the Tynedale Half Marathon, and I’m going for my PB again in the Great North Run.

“Some of the challenges haven’t been about the time, more the camaraderie and the fun of it. The Mighty Deerstalker, which is a ten-mile trail run over two mountains and through five rivers in Scotland in the dark during the depths of winter, was particularly tough but thoroughly enjoyable.”

He added: “As an extra bit of motivation during the nippy nights and wet weekends of training, I decided to do this challenge for charity".

To support his fundraising, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/stephenfawkes12in12