Larry Wise is heading up a team taking part in the Comrades Marathon – a 56-mile trek across South Africa to raise money for Lakelands Hospice in Corby.
Mr Wise, who runs for Corby Athletics Club, will be joined by his running coach Brian Farrar a
nd team mate Trudi Pike on the epic journey.
He said: "This race is something I have always wanted to do, and one day I was talking to Brian and he said he wanted to do it too.
"It is described as the Ultimate Marathon.
"At the moment Brian has got us on a training regime where we are working up to running six days a week, and doing between 80 and 90 miles.
"At the moment we are up to about 60 miles a week."
The 54-year-old is no stranger to tough challenges – his seven marathon challenge took place after he underwent life-saving open heart surgery.
Mr Wise added: "After I had my operation, which saved my life, I was treated at Glenfield hospice.
"So I just wanted to give something back to a local hospice and the NHS."
The race will see 20,000 competitors from around the world battle it out in the 12-hour race.
The Comrades Marathon, billed as the Ultimate Human Race, will start at 5.30am on Sunday, May 30, at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and will finish at 5.30pm at the Sahara Stadium in Durban, 56 miles away.
The team has not set a fundraising total, but have said they hope they will raise a large amount for the hospice.
To sponsor the trio visit
www.justgiving.com/larry-brian-trudi.
