KIND-hearted runner Mick Hadfield will be running for his girlfriend's life on August 31.

He'll be taking part in the three peaks challenge to raise money for the kidney dialysis unit she depends on.

Mick, of Greenhill, Great Harwood, is attempting the gruelling 24-mile race with a loaded backpack to help his girlfriend, Amanda Charnock, and others like her, who depend on the Accrington dialysis unit for their lives.

He said: "Amanda has been using the unit for the past eight years, going in three times a week for four hours at a time to have her blood cleaned.

"That means she has to be near a dialysis unit all the time. Amanda and others on dialysis can't get away on holiday.

"But the unit has a holiday fund which helps them get away, but it has to be somewhere with a machine close at hand. I want to boost the fund as much as I can." Mick took part in the run last year to raise money for the cause. He says the experience has taught him a few lessons to help him through it this time: "I went on my own last year, but I won't be doing that again! This year I want to take a few friends so I won't feel quite so lonely."

The three peaks challenge attracts competitors fro all over the world. It takes in Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.

Mick, who will also be raising money for Mencap during the run, said: "I hope to complete it in nine hours. It won't take the other competitors that long, but then they won't have a full backpack!"

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mick can ring the Citizen newsdesk on 671241.

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