A former bobby is to hotfoot it 26.2 miles for charity.
John Topham will tackle the gruelling London Marathon on April 26 in aid of Yorkshire-based Martin House Childen’s Hospice.
But it came as a big shock to John, who only found out he had been given a place several months into planning another charity event, which by strange coincidence will fall on the very same weekend.
Now it is a race against time for John, 71, both to get fighting fit and ensure that the grand charity concert, that he is helping to put on with Colne Valley Lions, is a roaring success.
John, of Golcar, said: “I decided to apply to enter the marathon through Martin House last year.
“The Lions had been fundraising for a family from Almondbury who need to redevelop their house for their disabled son, who goes to the hospice for respite.
“The boy’s dad had run the London Marathon before so I just thought it was a great challenge.
“But after applying I put it to the back of my mind and decided to create another event for Huddersfield’s Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, which is going to take place on April 25.
“Then I got the call in December, asking if I still wanted a marathon place in December and I realised what I’d done. Obviously I couldn’t ask the marathon organisers to push their event back so decided just to go ahead with both.
“Luckily I’ve entered a marathon before, although this will be my first time on the road and not on softer ground.
“I plan to do a mix of running and walking and am getting a lot of good practice by getting out on Huddersfield’s hills.
“My aim on the day is just to get around it, it’s certainly going to be interesting.”
So far he has met his fundraising goal of £1,500 and hopes to raise more once he has completed the event.
John’s other big aim is to sell as many tickets for the charity concert, which will feature performances by Gledholt Male Voice Choir and Slaithwaite Band at St James Parish Church, on Church Street in Slaithwaite.
He said: “Unfortunately, because of the marathon I won’t be able to go to the event I’ve organised, even though I came up with a hare-brained scheme to try go to both.
“But lots of others from Colne Valley Lions will make sure it’s a great night.
“It will be a cracking concert so it’s a bit annoying I can’t be there but it’s just one of those things and I hope that we can sell out the hall, which holds 500 people and raise as much money as we possibly can for Forget Me Not.”
The concert will start at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8.
To buy some, call Andrea on 01484 301748 or John and Sharon on 01484 658173.
