DOZENS of people waited under Saturday’s sun at Berkeley Castle to welcome the ‘DiAthelete’ at the end of his eighth marathon in nine days.

Gavin Griffiths, who has type 1 diabetes, was greeted by more than 40 supporters, among them youngsters who live with the same disease.

The 26-year-old, dubbed as the DiAthlete, is hoping that by running 25 marathons over a month he can raise more than £10,000 for a new international diabetes education project.

His eighth run took place on Saturday, starting from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the morning before finishing at Berkeley Castle in the middle of the afternoon.

More than 40 well-wishers awaited his arrival, including Berkeley Primary School pupils and children who also have type 1 diabetes.

Speaking after the end of his run, Gavin said: “If I was just some guy running out there on my own, then it’s not actually achieving anything as such, but to get kids involved, especially young people living with type 1 diabetes, that makes a big difference for me to get up and run again.”

Maisie Scott-Leighton, eight, was one of them, and she, along with her six-year-old sister Olive, joined Gavin on a short post-marathon jog with his Olympic torch before a warm-down session.

She said: “It was fantastic – it’s not every day that you get to carry the Olympic torch.

“I think Gavin is a crazy – but very determined – person.

“He wants to prove to children that you can do anything even though you have type 1 diabetes or any other condition.

“He has set a goal and I think he will achieve that goal.

“He’s a very amazing person.”

Maisie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2015 and helped to publicise Gavin’s marathon effort through a presentation at here school.

Money raised by Gavin over the course of his fundraising challenge will be donated to the League of DiAthletes education project and T1International which works with people from developing countries who have the disease.

To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/diathlete100