A LIVERPOOL solicitor donned his running spikes for Sport Relief after promising his grandmother on her deathbed that he would complete a marathon in her honour.
Mark Ellis, partner at James Murray Solicitors, Bootle plans to run the London Marathon next year.
But as part of the first stage of his training for the main event, Mark decided to run three miles around Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port for Sport Relief, raising around £200 for the charity.
Mark said: 'I was very close to my grandmother. Although she was very poorly at the end, she was an active woman and a great inspiration to me throughout my life. Whenever I used to go to visit her when she was ill, I used to joke that she was okay and would soon be well enough for us to run a marathon together.
"Her death affected myself and the rest of my family a great deal, but it just seemed like the natural thing to do to run a marathon in memory of her. Completing the first three miles for Sport Relief is just the first stage in helping me achieve that goal. I know she was smiling down on me and urging me on."