AN RAF Leeming sergeant pushed himself to the limits of endurance to raise thousands of pounds for charities close to his heart.

With three members of his family fighting cancer, and a son with a serious heart condition, Sgt Stu Maclean had real focus when he decided to raise charity cash.

After already completing a 69-mile ultra marathon, Sgt Maclean turned his attention to an even bigger challenge - the 120-mile Sandstone Way.

The route runs from Berwick Upon Tweed and finishes in Hexham, and despite having to stop at the 104-mile mark Sgt Maclean picked himself back up to complete the run in 35 hours and 20 minutes.

He said: “I still can’t believe I’ve done it.

“Three members of my family are being treated for cancer and they hopefully got a boost out of this – my uncle was at the finish line despite struggling to get out of bed sometimes, which was incredible.”

Sgt Maclean’s efforts have raised just under £3,000 to be split between RAF Leeming’s SSAFA committee and cancer and hospital charities.