RUNNER Mark Roberts (pictured) is going for the treble when he takes part in the London Marathon in April.

Mark, 39, of Wensley Road, Blackburn, has completed the marathon twice before - but he is hoping this year's time will be his best yet.

Last year he completed the 26-mile course in three hours 13 minutes. This time he wants to knock it down to around three hours.

Mark is raising money for the Winged Fellowship Trust, a charity which provides respite care and holidays for disabled people and their carers.

He said: "In the past I have raised money for big charities but I wanted to do it for one of the smaller ones that maybe finds it harder to get funds this time."

Mark, a mechanical engineer at BAE Systems in Samlesbury, is running 60 miles a week, combined with training in the BAE gym.

A keen football player for many years, he only took up running a couple of years ago and is now a member of the Blackburn Road Runners.

He said: "I have always had stamina but I have never been a sprinter. I just love the buzz I get from doing marathons. It gives me a real buzz to achieve something like that."

Mark is collecting sponsorship for the event on April 16. Anyone who would like to sponsor him or make a donation should contact him on 01254 606314 or 01254 766558.

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