WITCHFORD runner Mark Seaman is preparing for the sporting challenge of his life – pounding the streets of London in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Forty-seven-year-old Mark, a development manager based at GB Innomech in Witchford, used to compete regularly in county schools championships and decided to don his running shoes once more to run the London Marathon after a challenge from his eldest son.

Zac, 16, thought his dad would never be able to complete a marathon but just five months later and Mark has never looked back. He has laready completed the 13-mile Silverstone Half Marathon in March in just 1 hour and 55 minutes and hopes to cross the finishing line in London in under four and a half hours.

“There is always so much going on that it has been hard to follow a strict training plan and to allocate enough time drumming up sponsorship. My training is going well, I have been increasing my mileage regularly but my most immediate priority is to raise as much as I can for Great Ormond Street Hospital. My goddaughter had a second open heart procedure there last year, so the hospital was the ideal charity choice when I signed up for the marathon,” said Mark.

Mark has already secured more than �1,000 in support from his work colleagues, friends and relatives but wants to double that over the next few weeks. To pledge your support please email Mark at markseaman@innomech.co.uk or call 01353 667394.