MARATHON man Gary Lofthouse is hoping his running efforts will rise to the occasion when he completed the famous London event for Pendleside Hospice.

Gary is a national accounts executive for Warburton's Bakery in Bolton and has run the marathon before in 1998.

He said: "When I ran the marathon last time I completed it in four and a half hours and I am hoping to match that -- despite being older and heavier."

The 34-year-old father-of-two, from Westwood Road, Burnley, raised money last time for the national mobility charity Get Kids Going.

Now he has secured a place in the Flora sponsored event on Sunday April 14 and is busy following the marathon recommended training plan and running 16 to 17 miles each weekend.

Last time Gary did the marathon Warburtons agreed to match up to £750 that he raised which helped him to a fantastic £2,750 for charity.

He is hoping the company will agree to back him again and the hospice could benefit by about £2,000.

Gary's wife Clare and son Daniel, seven, will be travelling with him to London to cheer him on while his daughter three-year-old Charlotte will be supporting dad from home.

He said: "I picked the hospice this time because it is a local charity and I have unfortunately known a few friends who have needed the care they provide.

"I know the good work they do and my mother in law is also involved with the hospice."

Kaye Bartle said: "We are actually on the waiting list for some Golden Bond places in the London Marathon in the mean time it's brilliant that people who have secured places are deciding to raise money for the hospice.

"We are grateful to Gary for all his hard work training for this amazing feat and to Warburtons for offering to match his donation. We wish him luck!"

Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle cares for local people suffering from cancer an other life threatening diseases at the hospice in Reedley.

The cost of providing care will cost in excess £1.2million in the next financial year. A grant from the health authority provides for less than 23 per cent of the running costs leaving nearly £1million to be found from donations and fund-raisers.