A DAD-OF-THREE set himself the "huge challenge" to run a marathon last year, as a personal challenge to lose weight and support mental health services.

Michael Banner, based in Newton-le-Willows, has already completed a handful of fundraisers such as cycling challenges, half-marathons, and one previous marathon.

However, after having twins and moving house, the 32-year-old said that his fitness and mental health had slumped and by October 2021, he was the heaviest weight he had been at.

Determined to get into shape and raise money for a charity he believed in, he set himself the goal of running a marathon in twelve months time for Mind mental health charity.

St Helens Star: Michael has previously competed in fundraising challengesMichael has previously competed in fundraising challenges

Michael said: "After getting to the heaviest weight I had been at last year, I knew I needed to do something to get into shape.

"I wanted to set myself a huge challenge, so at first I thought about a 10k and then a half-marathon.

"But then I thought I may as well go the whole way and challenge myself to run a marathon by this point next year."

Michael, who is originally from Wirral, chose to raise money for Mind after witnessing his dad suffer from PTSD following a heroic, yet traumatic, incident where he saved a family from the River Dee.

A former volunteer at Merseyside Police, he has also seen the prevalence of mental health issues across the region as well as in his close friends and family.

St Helens Star: Michael's three childrenMichael's three children

While training for the marathon down the Sankey Canal, Michael recently caught the attention of some teenagers who hurled abusive comments about his weight.

This, however, has spurred him on and gave him further determination to finish the 26-mile trek for the mental health charity.

Michael added: "Years ago comments like that would have knocked me for six, but now it's water off a duck's back.

"I've had worse abuse hurled at me in the past and thankfully I'm now in a more positive mindset.

"But to someone else, those comments might be so hurtful that it could damage their mental health, or even be the trigger for something worse.

"So I've tried to look at it as a nice trigger, to spur me on to finish the marathon and raise money for a mental health charity, which desperately need more resources."

Michael will run the Chester Marathon on Sunday, October 2. To support his challenge and raise money for Mind, visit his fundraiser here.