A PRUDHOE man ran four back-to-back half marathons for charity.

Andrew Bruce ran from his home to the Great North Run (GNR) start line in Newcastle, before completing the 13.1-mile course to South Shields, only to turn back and do it all again.

The 52.6-mile challenge took the father-of-two 11 hours and 39 minutes.

Andrew has now raised over £1,700 for the North-East-based Team Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust after getting a place through his employer Waterman Aspen.

Andrew lost his brother aged just 44 to cancer in April 2016 and his sister was diagnosed and underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2020.

"It's always nice to push yourself and do things outside your comfort zone, and for a great cause", he said. "I'm still walking, I'm still alive, so I can't complain.

"I've thought a few times 'I wonder what it would be like to run from home to do the GNR and then run back'. It's been in the back of my mind - but I've never been stupid enough to actually do it."

Andrew took up running six years ago and has done the GNR every year since 2016.

He added: "It is a bit addictive, once you do it once, you get a buzz from it.

"The Great North Run is a fantastic achievement for anyone that does it but I thought 'I'm going to have to do something a bit different here to stand out.' 

"People have been so generous. It's really touching but it also puts a nice bit of pressure on. It spurred me on when I was running at mile 35. You think about the charity, the things people are fighting and it gives you a boost.

"I'll do it again - whether i'll do the 50 miles - I'm not sure."

Andrew timed the run - his first of this length - so he wouldn't have to stop. 

He was met by his wife Dawn, who ran part of the distance, at mile 45 with his two children Jake and Darcy.

You can donate to Andrew's page here:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-bruce13