A DEDICATED runner is to cover over 35 miles in a day to raise money for a man who is in need of a special wheelchair after being crushed by a motocross bike.

Nancy Harding, of Breadstone, near Berkeley, is in training to run 36 miles from Gloucester Cathedral to Bristol Cathedral on Sunday, October 9.

She is no stranger to running, having completed around seven marathons and being a 10-year member of Thornbury Running Club.

Having been involved in a fundraising event for Brad Hedges at Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre, Nancy decided she wanted to do something extra to raise money to pay for a special wheelchair he needs.

Brad, 26, from Wotton-under-Edge, was taking part in a motocross event last year when he came off his bike and was ridden over by another competitor, breaking his neck. He has been left paralysed from the waist down and his girlfriend Naomi Watkins has spent the last year fundraising to buy him an off-road electric wheelchair.

"I thought that it was a very sad incident and I wanted to raise some money for the wheelchair. I’d like to think if the same thing happened to me people would do the same," said Nancy, a mother-of-three.

Although she has run several marathons Nancy said this would be one of her toughest challenges.

"I suppose I do like the challenge," she said. "People have asked me if I am going to try and run a time, but I am going to just concentrate on finishing."

Nancy, 48, runs nearly every day and can rack up 60 miles in a week.

"I have always enjoyed running, but only did it competitively for the last 10 years. I run anywhere between seven and 20 miles each evening."

Nancy will run down the A38 nearly the whole way, with friends and members of Thornbury Running Club joining her for legs of the journey.

Sponsorship forms are available in Chipping Manor Dental Practice in Wotton and also in Berkeley Doctors' Surgery.