PREPARING for the Vitality North London Half Marathon takes most people months - for a former Bridgewater High School pupil it took 10 days.

Dan Hutchinson, aged 25, completed the 13.1 mile course in 1hr 42mins after the roar of the crowd and family support pushed him on during the gruelling challenge in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

After sadly losing his grandmother to the illness last October, Dan pledged to carry out the fundraising feat but the former Appleton resident, who now lives in London, admitted he surprised himself.

"I wanted to do the run before last October but after that I had more reason to do it so I could raise money for the cause," said the corporate account executive.

"I planned to prepare coming up to it but it did not end up happening so I only trained for a week and a half before it by going on a couple of runs.

"But even though I did not do as much physical preparation, I was eating a lot of good food, though I have to say I did surprise myself."

Those closest to Dan made their way to the capital to support him, including his mother, Mandy, brother, Will and girlfriend, Abbi Leach.

Donations have now topped £500 and Dan is already looking to the future to take on similar events, after a short rest, of course.

"It is the first thing like this that I have done and I never thought I would do something like this," he added.

"But having done it, I want to do more and hope to complete a full marathon and triathlon in the future."