A DAD-of-one who has previously taken on a marathon for charity is now pushing himself even further to run 100km in just one day for two causes close to his heart.

St Helens College health sciences lecturer Dave Fitzgerald decided to push himself even further in a bid to raise even funds for Cancer Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society.

He will be running the event this Saturday, May 25 from London to Brighton, a distance of 62.5miles – more than the length of two marathons.

St Helens Star:

The 34-year-old said: "Both charities are close to my heart.

"I have run a marathon but I have never even contemplated covering such a big distance in a short period of time.

"This will really push my limits and will hurt.

"The training has been insane and so hard.

"On Monday, me and my friend Paul Spooner who I am doing the challenge with ran 50km which took just under six hours and that’s only half way.

"But I'm determined to do it. My dad had cancer four times, my aunt had cancer and my nan had Alzheimers.

"The work hospital staff do is incredible.

"For many people who get Cancer, it is not always a good ending which is why we need to do even more to help these amazing charities find more cures and prevention methods.

"These illnesses don't discriminate."

n To donate go to justgiving.com/fundraising/fitzyandspooner