A FORMER Teignmouth resident who has never run a marathon in his life has just managed seven of them in the space of a week, and all for two very good causes.

Mike Evans, who was born and bred and in the town, put on his running shoes to and gave up his half-term holiday to pound the pavement and raise much-needed funds for Finnley’s Warriors and Children with Cancer UK.

The ex-Hazeldown Primary School pupil, who is now a PE teacher at Biddenham School in Bedford, ran three marathon-distance runs in the Teignmouth and Dawlish area before heading back to Bedford for the final four.

‘My friends and family know that I thrive on a physical challenge and have a passion for helping others,’ said marathon man Mike.

‘They also though I was slightly crazy as most people know I hate running and will do anything to get out of it!’

However, both Finnley’s Warriors and Children with Cancer UK are causes very close to Mike’s heart and they got him out and pounding the pavements.

‘Finn was diagnosed in 2017 with a rare and aggressive from of cancer called Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma of which only 10 kids a year are diagnosed with,’ continued Mike.

‘After numerous rounds of intensive treatments and chemotherapies Finn is now in remission, which is down to the fantastic work of Children With Cancer UK who provided them with a protocol to follow which saved his life.

‘However not all youngsters and families are as fortunate as Finn and lose their battle with cancer at such a young age with so much to live for. This sadly is due to the lack of funding available to childhood cancers and the treatments available, some of which haven’t changed for 50 years, and those that are in place are adult protocols used on kids and not specific to them, which is needed.

Raising awareness and funds is vital so CWCUK can make these breakthroughs so kids and their families can have a treatment option suited to children and give them the best possible chance of survival.’

A target figure of £250 was the sum Mike initially set to raise. The current figure has now gone past the £5000 mark.

‘The support I’ve received has been phenomenal,’ he said.

‘I’ve been absolutely blown out of the that water by people’s generosity and I can’t thank them enough.’

The page for donations is still open and can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mikeandmax7marathons7days.