Despite a ‘shaky knee’, a 56-year-old will be tackling his first London Marathon this April.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Gary O'Leary will be taking on the London Marathon to raise cash for Welwyn Garden City-based charity Hertfordshire Action on Disability.Gary O'Leary will be taking on the London Marathon to raise cash for Welwyn Garden City-based charity Hertfordshire Action on Disability. (Image: Archant)

Come rain or shine, Gary O’Leary will be training by taking part in all 10 of Hertfordshire’s parkruns

Parkruns are organised free weekly 5km runs, open to everyone.

Gary, 56, of Birch Green, has been jogging to keep fit for many years and is also heavily involved in organising many community activities and running events.

He founded the weekly Panshanger parkrun in 2014 and it now attracts 230 runners.

Last year, he arranged two summer Smile races at Hatfield House and Panshanger Park raising money for WGC-based Hertfordshire Action on Disability (HAD) and Isabel Hospice, which attracted over 600 runners.

Gary will again be raising money for HAD when he runs the London Marathon.

He said; “Working with HAD made me realise how important their services are for the elderly, disabled and less

mobile.

“So, despite a shaky knee and a preference for five rather than 40k, I’m taking up the challenge to run at London for them and try and raise some vital funds.

“It’s a great charity and one that we, or our close ones, may all need one day.”

If you would like to sponsor Gary’s HAD marathon run, visit his fundraising page: justgiving.com/fundraising/marathongaryHAD enable older and disabled people to lead an independent life and have been doing so for almost sixty years.