A RUNNER from Oswaldtwistle has issued one final push to help with his year long fundraising target.

Antony Mathews has been looking to raise £2017 in 2017 for East Lancashire Hospice in memory of a family friend.

His partner was very close with Teresa Cole, from Darwen, who died aged 59 from breast cancer three years ago, and spent her last few days at the hospice.

Seeing the support the charity gave the former Accrington and Rossendale College student, who worked at Bensons for Beds in Accrington, inspired Mr Mathews to take on his fundraising challenge.

The main source of his fundraising has been completing 10km runs, and he achieved a personal best of sub 50 minutes at the Heaton Park run earlier this year.

However the 32-year-old said fundraising had stalled recently, and is hoping for a late push to boost his total.

So far just under £500 has been raised for the cause with just a few weeks remaining.

The father-of-three said: "I thought it would be a really good thing to raise awareness of what they do and raise some money for them

“The fundraising seems to have come to a bit of a standstill. There’s a lot going in the area the moment."

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amathews2017.