A KNUTSFORD business has pulled out all the stops to help one employee raise over £8,000 for completing the London Marathon.

Howard Leach, a sales negotiator at Stuart Rushton & Co, completed the challenge last Sunday in 4.45 hours, giving all proceeds to Children with Cancer UK.

Worried he might not reach the initial target of £2,000, Howard asked his employers to step in and help him fundraise.

In an effort to help him boost his funds, the Knutsford based estate agents put on an evening ball at Mere Court raising a whopping £7,000 of the final total.

Howard decided to raise the money after a family member battled with the disease at just two years old.

“I have seen the work that Children with Cancer do first hand, and they really do support families a great deal.

“Fundraising was my ultimate motivation. When you feel like stopping you just have to think ‘no I am doing this for the charity, I have to finish it.’

Despite suffering an 8 week gap in training due to broken arm, the 22-year-old from Over Peover still managed to finish the race in good and raised a grand total of £8,045.

He said: “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help of Stuart Rushton & Co, I’m really grateful for everything they have done for me and they definitely deserve some acknowledgement for all of the time and money they spent helping me to give so much for such a good cause.”