Horsforth Harrier Marc Springer, 43, has had more on his mind than just mileage whilst training for his latest ultra-run -The Rombald's Stride over 26 miles of Ilkley Moor in February.

Having watched the plight of thousands of villagers made homeless by Hurricane Mitch Marc decided to do something about it.

With backing from his athletics club, Horsforth Harriers, and Sports Direct of Rodley Marc will attempt to run the equivalent of a marathon around Leeds Town Hall to raise sponsorship for the disaster fund.

The run is scheduled for Saturday, January 2, starting at 10 am when Marc hopes to gain maximum attention from bargain hunters at the January sales.

'I suspect that to most people the tragedy in Nicaragua and Honduras is history but I intend with my run to remind them that real suffering is still going on,' said Marc.

No stranger to sponsored fund raising Marc has raised thousands of pounds for charities as diverse as Help the Aged and the St James' Hospital Kidney Appeal through stunts such as rollerskating from York to Leeds and hopping the London Marathon.

So far Marc has had an excellent response to his appeal and has distributed large numbers of sponsor sheets. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund may do so by making donations payable to Cafod and sending them to Marc Springer c/o St Brendan's Church, Greengates, Bradford.

Cafod, the Catholic charity, is responsible for sending the money to Central America.

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