A VOW to run a marathon for charity before he turned 50 saw Kendal dad-of-three Mark Molyneaux raise £500 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

The marathon effort by Mark, 49, saw him make it over the finish line at the Brathay Trust's Windermere Marathon in four hours 16 minutes.

The managing director of Kendal Caravans said he battled with cramps that set in just after the halfway point, but he "dug deep" to complete the hilly course around Windermere - his first 26.2-mile event. He

Mark said: "I have missed cycling since November when I did the 60-mile Cumbria Cracker with my wife Soulla. After that I started running again, then began full training in January for the Windermere marathon.

"With early starts on beautiful frosty mornings, it has been an enjoyable but challenging experience. I previously ran a couple of half marathons but the full marathon was on my ‘to do’ list before my 50th birthday. Now I’ve done it, but with the aches and pains I don’t look forward to doing it again; but never say never!"

Mark ran the half marathons with Soulla, who also ran the Windermere marathon in 2015 when Mark was away on an unsupported 850-mile cycling challenge from London to Monaco that he planned with his son James. It took him just eight-and-a-half days and raised £3,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mark chose to support Rosemere Cancer Foundation for its work to help local cancer patients. He and his father David Molyneaux, who founded Kendal Caravans and its sister company Westfield Caravans, Blackpool, hosted the company’s 35th anniversary celebration for colleagues, suppliers and customers last year, raising £8,000 for the charity.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation launched a 20-year anniversary appeal in March and hopes to raise £1.5 million. For more, visit www.rosemere.org.uk