Lee Burns, 35, operations manager at the Dairycrest depot in Bury, has been sending out milk floats from the depot with sponsorship forms.

With nearly £4,000 already pledged by generous customers, Mr Burns, who is running for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, said: "The support I have received from customers is fantastic and I am very grateful for all the money that has been pledged.

"I am looking forward to it but I am also a bit daunted and keep worrying about getting an injury."

Make-A-Wish, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, grants wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "We thank Lee's customers for sponsoring him so generously.

"It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to train for this event and we're so proud of Lee for taking the time to do it.

"The money raised will help us to reach our target of granting 600 wishes this year."

n ST NICHOLAS' Hospice will be well represented at this year's London Marathon, when seven people put on their running shoes, many for their first time, to raise money for the charity.

Roy Swarbrick, of Bury, who works at the hospice, is training for the marathon with his nephew Andy Seeley, also from Bury.

Postman Nick Huggins, Steve Whittaker, a friend of a hospice employee, and Reg Harris, whose wife works at the hospice's inpatient unit, are all from Bury and ready to pound the streets for the Bury unit.

Mr Harris completed the marathon barefoot two years ago, but this year he will be wearing his running shoes.

Gill Cox, a community nurse from Exning, will also take part, as will Lorna Martin, of Beck Row, who has lost 15 stone in an attempt to get fit. The London Marathon will be her first attempt at a long-distance run.

Jenny Baskett, events co-ordinator for the hospice, said: "Our runners have been getting sponsorship from friends, family and colleagues .

"They've had great support from the local community and we're so grateful they're rising to the challenge for us."

n FORMER Bury boy Orlando Scott-Cowley is aiming to raise £5,000 for the Stroke Association in memory of his father Brian Cowley, a fashion photographer who suffered a series of strokes and died three years ago.

Orlando is returning from Boston, Massachusetts, where he is currently working in software securities, for the London event. He has had a challenging time training, thanks to snowy weather on the other side of the Atlantic.

He said: "My father was an amazing person who, until he fell ill, had led an active and colourful life. He had been fit, healthy and active up to the day of his first stroke, one afternoon in 1992."

Orlando, 31, attended St James' Middle School, in Bury St Edmunds and Culford School. He is aiming for a time of three hours 30 minutes.