A BASINGSTOKE man has raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity after running every day for a whole year.

Despite not being a keen runner, Stuart Dickinson managed to run for at least two miles every day in 2013 - running up to 10 miles on occasion.

He vowed to take on the challenge for Cancer Research UK after his beloved grandmother Dorothy Kernutt(ok) passed away after a battle with cancer in November 2012.

Stuart, 35, said: “I'm not going to lie - sometimes it was very hard.

“I ran on my birthday, my wife's birthday, Christmas Day, and even on a stag do in Amsterdam. It was probably worst when the weather was awful in November and December.

“But it was a great thing to do and I'm really pleased I did it. It felt really strange on New Year's Day, waking up and not having to run, and it was only a couple of days before I was running again.

“It's definitely something I will keep up, but not every day. It's changed my way of thinking. I know there are no excuses for not getting out there now.”

Stuart has so far raised around £2,700 and the money is still coming in from people who wanted to sponsor him once he had completed the challenge.

Stuart, who works as quality and sub-contracting manager at the Institute of Swimming, said he would not have been able to complete the challenge without the support of his wife Vicky.

He said: “It hasn't been much fun for her. We had to plan everything around how we could fit the running in, and I was running in the evening on Valentine's Day and on our first wedding anniversary. She has been a massive support for me.”

On New Year's Eve, Stuart completed his final run accompanied by friends and family and celebrated with all of them after finishing the year-long challenge.

He said: “It was quite emotional to know that I had finally done it.”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Dickinson.