A LITTLE Downham man is aiming to raise at least £1,000 for the Milton Hospice by running the New York Marathon next month. Tim Spurr, 42, lived and was married in Milton 20 years ago, shortly after the hospice was built to support terminally ill childre

A LITTLE Downham man is aiming to raise at least £1,000 for the Milton Hospice by running the New York Marathon next month.

Tim Spurr, 42, lived and was married in Milton 20 years ago, shortly after the

hospice was built to support terminally ill children.

Mr Spurr was prompted to raise money for the hospice after he read about its struggles in the Ely Standard.

He said: "I really wanted to support a local charity so I can see where the money is being spent. I remembered reading in the Ely Standard's Help Our Hospice Campaign about how the Milton Hospice heavily relied on donations from the public, so thought that would be a really good choice."

The idea to run the New York Marathon first started as a joke between Mr Spurr and a work colleague in an American office but, six months later, he is fit and raring to go.

Mr Spurr has trained hard, running 35 miles a week for the past two months.

He said: "I'd always been a fit and sporty person, but because I've been so busy with work, I've let myself slip in the last couple of years, and this gave me something to focus on and get my fitness back, while doing something really positive to help

others."

The New York Marathon is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest road races, drawing more than 90,000 applicants and about 315 million world-wide television viewers a year, and finishes at Central Park.

Mr Spurr has already received excellent support, and has raised approximately £600.

He will be financing the trip himself and the company he works for, Jeyes Ltd, is paying for the flight to ensure that every penny raised will go to the Milton Hospice.

The run will be on November 5.

n To sponsor Mr Spurr, go to www.justgiving.com/timspurr or contact him on 07881 917093.