A RUNNER from Otley will race for charity in the Barcelona Marathon next weekend.

For Danny Cooney the Sunday, March 12 event will be his fourth fundraising marathon in 12 months.

Money raised from the Spanish race will go to the Mitochondrial Disease charity the Lily Foundation, in support of two year old Otley girl Isla Shaw.

Mr Cooney had been planning to take a break from running after completing the Cork, Dublin and Lanzarote marathons for local charities last year.

He changed his mind after hearing about the work Isla's mother, Shona Mellon, was doing to raise awareness about the condition and related issues like tube feeding.

He said: "If I am being honest I really did not want to do another one for a while as I have had a couple of niggling injuries and running fatigue.

"After talking to Shona though, and seeing the great response we had from the local community towards the end of last year at our previous fundraisers, we decided to go for it.

"After the Barcelona Marathon we will be holding an all day and night charity day at the Manor House pub on Saturday, April 1 which will include a fun run, family games and early kids disco, and buffet food.

"That will be followed in the evening with live music from Keiran La Fox and a raffle auction and DJ."

Sponsorship forms for the marathon are available behind the bar at the Manor House, where any raffle auction prizes can also be dropped off.

Anyone interested in helping on the day can find out more by sending an e-mail to Shona.Mellon@Hotmail.Com .