'Pink dress' fundraiser changes for home marathon

Colin Burgin-Plews is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support

A well-known fundraiser from the North East is running a marathon at home wearing a series of flamboyant costumes.

Colin Burgin-Plews has gained national recognition for his charity endeavours, and raised thousands of pounds running in his distinctive pink dress.

The 50-year-old was set to take part in Sunday's London Marathon, which has been rescheduled due to coronavirus.

He will run the distance in stages on a treadmill at his South Shields home.

Mr Burgin-Plews aims to finish it on the day the marathon was due to take place and is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Over five years he has raised more than £128,000 for charities

Mr Burgin-Plews has raised more than £128,000 for charities over the last five years and was the recipient of the 2019 Pride of Britain Award for Individual Fundraising.

He said: "Historically I haven't been a big fan of treadmills.

"I call it the dread-mill, that's why mine was in a cupboard underneath a pile of costumes gathering dust.

"But with everything that's going on in the world with coronavirus I wanted to show my support, keep people's spirits up and hopefully generate some much needed cash for Macmillan Cancer Support even if I am stuck indoors like everyone else."