Man retraces marathon route from 1980s for charity

Mark Hillyard wore scrubs in recognition of work done by doctors and surgeons

A man has retraced an old marathon route and raised money for cancer charities after several people he knew had the condition.

On Saturday, Mark Hillyard - a retired engineer from Swindon - completed the town's 10km (6.2 mile) Race for Life and then completed the former route of Swindon's People's Marathon - which totalled more than 30 miles (48km) in one day.

The money raised will be spilt between Cancer Research UK and the Brainstorm charity.

He said "this is my way of trying to do something to help".

Mr Hillyard kept a picture of the group of friends doing the 1988 Swindon's People's Marathon

He completed Swindon's People's Marathon - no longer an event - in 1988 for a hospital charity with close friends.

They dressed up in hospital and maternity ward outfits.

On Saturday, Mr Hillyard repeated the theme, wearing green surgeon scrubs "in recognition of all the brilliant work our doctors and surgeons do with cancer treatments".

Lots of friends and family turned up to support Mr Hillyard

Swindon's People's Marathon route started at Wyvern Square and included Queen's Drives, Drakes Way, the Great Western Way and finished at Faringdon Road Park.

He trained for six months and ran and walked the routes, despite having an injury.

Mr Hillyard said he had a lot of support from friends and family, and 20 turned up for the events.

He said: "They think I'm a bit crazy, but they've always thought that. I know they're behind me."