INSPIRED by the response of emergency services to last year’s Manchester terrorist attack, a fitness fanatic is running 52 marathons in just 52 weeks.

Neil Wheeler has also peddled for 12 hours straight in a Marlborough gym and run 10km in wellies filled with beans as part of his year of fundraising for Police Treatment Centres.

The planning consultancy administrator vowed to give back to the police force after seeing the emergency response to the attack which killed 22 people in May 2017.

Mr Wheeler, 36, from Collingbourne Ducis said: “I saw what happened with the Manchester bombing attacks and I wandered if I would run into danger. I would quite like to think I would but it made me think about those police officers who go out to jobs and don’t know what they will face. Then when they get injured they don’t always get the support they need.When I read into the Police treatment centres I discovered that they have to raise nearly all the money themselves and do not get help form government grants like some larger charities do.

“My personal best is now 3hours 45minutes.”

He is set to compete in the Reading and Andover marathons later this year and will also head to Poland as part of the challenge.

During the 12 hour spinathon outside Fitness Space Marlborough.

He continued: “I have been really surprised by how much I raised from the cyclathon. People don’t always carry cash going to the gym but people wanted to support the cause. The hardest part was the heat, I was outside all day on the same spot.

“When you are moving at least you can see progress but by hour 11 I was still in exactly the same place!

“I decided to do the cyclathon because I don’t particularly like or find cycling easy. I thought if I pushed myself to do something out of my comfort zone more people will donate.”

He has already raised £500 and hopes to raise £100 by the end of the year.