A RUNNER recovering from a heart attack has vowed to carry on clocking up the miles for cash despite the serious health risks.

Roger Millray, of Old Hutton, has been told by his GP to ‘take it easy’ after collapsing shortly after completing 182 laps on the deck of a Mediterranean cruise ship.

He did the 26-mile cruise ship run as he was unable to complete the London Marathon because he was celebrating his ruby wedding anniversary with his wife on the luxury Saga ship.

The former Royal Engineers mechanic completed the run to raise money for the SSAFA forces charity in memory of his son, Darren, who died while serving in the British Army in Northern Ireland.

Just days after the cruise ship run Roger was on a coach trip in the Ukraine when he felt a shooting pain down his throat that quickly spread to his chest.

He said: “A little old ambulance more like a minibus picked me up.

"I didn’t know what was happening.

“It took me to a small hospital with minimal medical equipment where I learnt I had suffered a heart attack.”

Roger spent four days in hospital before being transferred to Istanbul where he flew home with a doctor But since then he has been keen to get his running shoes back on and has already raised £259 for the Endmoor and District First Responders by taking part in the Great North Run Roger said: “It did make me slow down a bit, instead of running up hills I walked.

“But I’m not going to stop running and raising money for charity – it has turned into a real passion of mine.”

Cynthia Hurren, of Endmoor and District First Responders, said the money raised by Mr Millray would pay for four of the team’s pagers for a year “It is fantastic when local people volunteer like Roger,” she said.

“We are an ageing population and would appeal to all the youngsters to consider volunteering.”

To join up, visit www.endmoor.org.uk