A COUNCILLOR from Almondsbury is getting ready to put his best foot forward for charity this weekend as he faces the Great North Run.

John Calver, 58, is set to take on the 13.1mile race in Newcastle on Saturday, raising money for Arthritis Research UK as his wife Elaine suffers with a variation of the condition.

Having first run the race in 1981 at the age of 21, John has since run a few more half marathons, but confessed that he “settled into a life of idleness” but decided on New Year’s Day this year to give it another go.

“I got very worried when my entry was successful,” he said. “I set a target time when I entered but I'm not letting on, my training tells me it was way too ambitious.

“All I know is that I'll be somewhere behind Mo Farah - just.

“I started training in January and it all went well up to June when I tried ramping it up and twisted my knee, tearing a few ligaments, which put me out of action for the month, but I am back and raring to go!”

He said that when Elaine began to suffer with Psoriatic Arthritis, it started almost overnight, and whilst she is very stoic and complains little, he knows it makes even the most everyday tasks very tough painful.

He said that some of the more modern treatments she receives at the BRI are funded by the charity, but research is expensive to find more effective treatments with less aggressive side-effects.

To sponsor John, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-calver.