Tony Cavaliere hadn't a stitch of sportswear to pound the streets when he took the plunge to enter the New York City Marathon.

And the 38-year-old father of two from Silsden still only has a pair of £90 running shoes - bought for £30 in the sale.

He is now on the look out for a kind sponsor to help kit him out for the next six months he will spend pounding the streets of his home town in training for the event.

Tony, who runs Cobbydale Stores in Howden Road, was inspired to take on the challenge by his 62-year-old mum Tina's battle to beat breast cancer seven years ago.

"Mum survived and she's fully recovered, but it was a bad time for everyone. I won't forget that.

"She came through and I want to pay something back, and when I saw the appeal for New York City Marathon runners in the Press, I decided to give it a go," said Tony.

The event takes place on Sunday, November 2, and he hopes to take along his 37-year-old wife Gill and children, Isabella, 11, and eight year-old Christian.

He will be running in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research and must raise a minimum of £2,400.

So far he is managing to clock up about 40 miles a week since registering his entry in March, mostly along the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

But he has also run to his mum and dad's house in Bolton Lane, Bradford, where he was brought up.

"I run in these new shoes which are great and in a T-shirt and track suit bottoms, so I need some more kit so I can look the part," he said.

"I haven't done any real running since my teens, but I'm enjoying it now. It's a challenge and a change from standing behind the counter all day and I feel better afterwards."

It will be Tony's first trip to the USA ,and the family aim to visit his wife's sister who lives near New York.

A Yorkshire Cancer Research spokesman said the organisation funds work into the cause and cure of cancer at universities and their associated teaching hospitals throughout Yorkshire.

Anyone who would like to take part either in the New York City Marathon or the Great North Run in September, should call Yorkshire Cancer Research on 01423 501269, log on to www.ycr.org.uk/running or email running@ycr.org.uk.