Marathon man set to go the distance – TWICE in a week Harry, 83, to run in London and Manchester races
AN INCREDIBLE 83-year-old marathon man will tackle the distance twice in a week to raise money for charity.
Great-grandad Harry Newton, from Broken Cross, will run the London Marathon on Sunday, October 3.
And then after a week to recover he will put his running shoes back on to have a crack at the Manchester Marathon on October 10.
He is raising money for the Christie at Macclesfield appeal having recovered from a diagnosis of lymphoma in 2008
Harry said: “I started running aged 57 and ran the London Marathon in 1995, it was a bit of a disaster. But I got better and kept improving until I was 70.
“I’m in reasonable shape, I’ve slowed down a little bit with age as there are not too many of us still running at 83.
“I’m going to keep going as long as I can, I will need to rest up and get a sports massage between the two marathons. It keeps me fit and raises money.”
Harry, who is a member of Macclesfield Harriers, is hoping to complete each marathon in under 5 hours and 30 minutes.
He is a retired grocer and sub postmaster who is married to wife Phyllis and has a daughter, two sons, nine grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.
While he will take on the London Marathon on his own, son David, 58, will run the Manchester Marathon with him.
Training for Harry is a run every other day building up to a maximum distance of around 19 miles.
Altogether he has completed 20 marathons, plus last year’s virtual London Marathon and another unofficial one running laps of his house to raise money for charity.
Following his cancer diagnosis Harry received six months chemotherapy and has been in remission since 2009.
He said: “This will be the biggest challenge I have attempted, but the donations and support of my friends for this most worthwhile charity will inspire me to keep going when the going gets tough.”
TO sponsor Harry visit Justgiving.com/ fundraising/harrys2 marathons.