A Keighley retail boss who tackled a charity pub crawl along the route of the Virgin London Marathon is returning to the capital for a new challenge – the race itself.

Peter Wowk and four friends raised £1,600 for Manorlands five years ago when they downed a drink at all 80-plus pubs on the 26.2-mile course during mammoth a three-day session.

Now Mr Wowk, who turns 50 on April 14, hopes to conquer the marathon for the same cause.

“This is the first time I have run any sort of distance,” he said.

“The marathon is a very long way and I’m no spring chicken, but I started training in October and, apart from a few blisters and injuries, it’s been going alright.

“I’ve no finishing time in mind. It’s just a matter of trying to get to the end of it.”

Utley man Mr Wowk, managing director of outdoor clothing and equipment shop Speak’s, is supporting the Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice in tribute to the care it gave his late mother.

“The staff were absolutely fantastic – not just to my mum but to the whole family,” he said. “I wanted to give something back.”

He hopes to raise £3,000 through sponsorship.

And funds are being boosted with a sweepstake on his finishing time, being run at Speak’s in Lawkholme Crescent and at The Boltmakers Arms in East Parade, Keighley.

Mr Wowk has the nickname The Orange Flash due to his brightly-coloured running attire and ‘lumbering’ style!

Visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/theorangeflash to sponsor Mr Wowk in the April 21 race or theorangeflash.blog-spot.com to read his blog.