AN ambulance paramedic is taking on one of the toughest marathons in the country to raise money for TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity.

Simon Butterworth, of Shildon, is taking on the Wooler Trail Marathon in Northumberland later this year.

The marathon, which starts and ends in the Northumberland town of Wooler, has a total ascent of more than 6,000 feet but also covers a race distance of 28.5 miles.

Simon, 40, and a paramedic and a clinical manager with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, says he is raising money for TASC because of the charity’s support for ambulance service staff.

He said: “One reason for raising money for TASC is because they are independent of any individual health trust, which is important, because some colleagues may find it difficult to come to our own occupational health teams if they need help or support. But I’m also running the Wooler marathon to raise the profile of TASC and the work that it does, so more people know the charity is there to support ambulance staff.”

Simon, who is a married father-of-two, has worked for the ambulance service since 2002.

He added: “I’m a member of my local running club, the Shildon Running and Athletics Club, so I am representing the club at those events, but I’m doing the Wooler Trail Marathon for charity.

”So I urge everyone to please pledge what they can. It all adds up and will be gratefully received by TASC.”

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/simonbutterworth

For more information about the Wooler Trail Marathon please visit: trailoutlaws.com/wooler.php

For more information about TASC visit: theasc.org.uk or call 0800-1032999.