IT WAS Paris to Blackpool or bust on his gruelling 21-day 'Two Towers' back-to-back marathon challenge... but he made it!

Now Ray Edensor - aka The Running Paramedic - is celebrating being able to give dozens of terminally-ill children the experience of a lifetime by raising more than £38,000 for the national Dreams Come True charity.

Father-of-two Ray, 47, of Boardman Crescent, Stafford, first started out on his epic journey from the French capital on April 10 with the aim of arriving in the Fylde resort on April 30. Since then the Staffordshire Ambulance crew member has clocked up a knee-trembling 650 miles, lost two-and-a-half stone and, even more traumatically, been whacked over the head by a mystery attacker just outside Chorley!

Ray said: "It was just after midday on April 29 when I was running along the Preston Road at Charnock Richard.

"My shadow rider noticed a red car with two men sat looking at me.

"The next thing I know I was unconscious.

"Police say I was hit over the head, we think with a piece of wood, but investigations are still on-going.

"We have a pretty good idea who did it but we're aren't going to let one group of people spoil what has been an amazing experience for me.

"I really feel such a sense of achievement from this and I'm so proud to be able to help so many children realise their dreams."

Ray - who ran the entire challenge in full uniform wearing a 20lb rucksack on his back - still hopes to reach his target of £50,000 in the next few weeks by collecting-in outstanding sponsorship monies from across the country.

He said: "I'm now looking forward to a well-earned rest before I decide what my next challenge is going to be.

"Who knows - I could end up doing a Phileus Fogg next!"