A one time couch potato turned marathon runner, is to tackle his seventh 26 miler in memory of his still-born grand-daughter.

Jim Thompson has been driven to take on the Edinburgh marathon after his Keighley step-daughter Lindsey Smith, 29, lost her baby, Shanon Leigh, at 28 weeks.

Doctors at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, were unable to save the little girl who was delivered by caesarean section on April 15.

She was Lindsey and her partner Chris Atha's first baby. Her funeral was held at Oakworth crematorium earlier this month.

Jim, 42, of Hunter's Meadow, Silsden, will take to the streets of the Scottish capital on Sunday to raise cash for the Stillborn and Neonatal Society and for the maternity unit at Airedale.

He said: "It was a very shocking and traumatic time for us especially Lindsey and her partner Chris.

"When I got home from hospital I looked on the internet for a support group and found SAND.

"The site encourages people to express their feeling. I felt it appropriate to do the marathon for them.

"But I will be sharing what I raise with Airedale labour ward. They were magnificent.

"People criticise the health service but the staff couldn't do enough for us - especially for Lindsey.

Jim, who is being backed by his company Snugpak, of Silsden, will be hoping to get somewhere near his personal best of four hours twenty-six minutes.

He started running in 2003 after being encouraged to take on the Great North Run, a half marathon.

Since then he has run six marathons and in 2006 ran three - London in the April and then Edinburgh and Toronto within a week in the autumn.

"Until I started running I was your typical couch potato. I drank and smoked to much. I had let go," he added.

"But I love it now and have joined the Keighley and Craven group - they are a great bunch who push me on."

Jim is keen to get as much sponsorship as possible and anyone interested can log on to the website www.justgiving.com/jimmykins.