A BIGHEARTED Bispham man has raised an amazing £14,000 for charity while keeping fit.

Dad-of-one Carl Barnard, 39, of Linden Place, Bispham, loves running and figured he may as well get sponsored and fund-raise at the same time. He reckons he's amassed thousands over the past few years.

"I do all sorts of runs. I have just run the London Marathon, I've run in New York and Chicago, I'm doing the Great North Run later this year, although I'm becoming a veteran now!" he joked.

"I have been raising money for handicapped children for the last two years for a charity called Get Kids Going, buying sports mobility equipment.

"Because of my running I just get sent leaflets through the post for different runs and different charities.

"I've not actually got anybody in the family who is handicapped. I just felt that I wanted to raise the money while I was running -- I've always felt like that."

Carl said he's raised money for asthma charities -- inspired by his ten-year-old daughter who was a sufferer -- and many others including Help the Aged and Cancer Research.

When he's not running, caring Carl is often on the Prom with a collection bucket. On Saturday he was collecting outside North Pier for Get Kids Going, before running the Blackpool Fun Run on Sunday for the Macmillan Windmill Appeal.

"I 've gone round with forms, just because I'm from that area, and people are really supportive," he said.

And there's no stopping this marathon man from reaching for the skies. He's planning a parachute jump for charity this year as well as a 26 mile race in Barbados.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Carl can contact him on 0776 173 3953.