FATHER of two Andy Quicke is taking on a huge challenge this weekend by attempting to run the length of Wales.

The 40-year-old from Knutsford is looking to run the entire Offa's Dyke Path - the length of Wales from south to north – a distance of 185 miles.

The major challenge is the third this year for Andy, following on from a fell running circuit of 47 Snowdonian peaks in North Wales and taking part in the London Marathon.

Andy, a keen runner, works for Swedish bank Handelsbanken in Manchester, and is married to Becky. The couple have two daughters at St Vincent’s Primary School in Knutsford.

He said: “Over the past couple of years I have overcome various injuries, built up my training in the Snowdonian and Lake District mountains when I am able, put in the miles on local roads and trails and completed the Bob Graham Round in 2018.

“I have decided to push back the boundaries and really challenge myself this year, and in the process raise funds for two causes that are very close to me and many others.”

His 2019 challenges are raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and Street Support Network, which connects homeless people with support and services.

Andy chose the Alzheimer’s Society because his mother Paulette, 68, suffers from the condition, having been diagnosed in her early 60s, and Street Support Network because of the invaluable work it does helping the homeless in cities and towns across the north west, including Manchester.

He said: “Alzheimer's Society carries out invaluable work in supporting people who suffer from this terrible disease and working towards treatments.

“On a personal level Alzheimer's is a disease that I have seen affect family and friends, including my own mother. As we are all aware, the impact this disease has on sufferers and those around them is massive.

“Whilst we might moan if we get caught in a shower or spend a few minutes in the cold, there are a large number of people we see in Manchester and other cities for who this is not just a few minutes out in the cold.

“I am supporting Street Support Network, who work to link the homeless with support services and a way off the streets.”

Andy has completing the Paddy Buckley Round, a continuous fell running circuit of 47 Snowdonian peaks, which involved 28,000 feet of ascent and descent, and took part in The London Marathon, finishing in a time of two hours 49 minutes.

The final challenge starts on Friday evening, September 13, when he aims to run the length of Wales from south to north.

He said: “It is about 185 miles, and involves nearly 30,000 feet of vertical ascent and descent on a variety of tracks and trails. Hopefully I will finish at some point on Monday or Tuesday.

“The route starts in Chepstow and follows the dramatic scenery from the Severn Estuary, over the Black Mountains up the length of the Welsh border and finishing in Prestatyn after crossing the Clwydian Range.

“This is significantly longer and harder than I have gone before, so I have been training hard in the Welsh Mountains and on the local trails to get my body and mind ready for the challenge.”

His fundraising pages are uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=1042732 and justgiving.com/fundraising/andy-quicke