A KIND-hearted runner turned to the sport to cope with the death of his beloved mother.

Now John Hibbitts has taken his hobby to the extreme by running an ultra marathon in aid of Penketh charity the Shannon Bradshaw Trust.

The 40-year-old from Great Sankey said he wanted to give something back after he was inspired by his mum, Mary, who spent her retirement volunteering before she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

John said: “When mum finished working she wanted to go straight away into helping other people. It was inspirational.

“I’m not as strong as my mum but I wanted to find ways I could help others.”

Mary died in 2012. John started running soon afterwards and joined Warrington Running Club.

He said: “I know how brain diseases can affect families - it changes who the person was and it’s very tough. I’m very passionate about helping people who are going through what we went through and hopefully helping to make their lives a bit better through the Shannon Bradshaw Trust.”

John, who works at United Utilities, took on the 50 mile Liverpool to Manchester challenge in April alongside friends Mark Daniels and Caroline Bones.

It took 12 hours and 40 minutes but John said: “I couldn’t have done it without them. Mark was my rock, he motivated me to push myself. Members of the club cheered us the whole way and my girlfriend met me at every checkpoint.”

John has raised more than £1,000 so far and to donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/JH-Liverpool-to-Manchester.