A BARRY-BASED medical man is pledging to leg it for a good cause after breaking a bone in his last attempt at the London Marathon.

West Quay Medical Centre business manager Colin Blackwell will defy his NHS-employed wife to try and raise more than £2,000 for Sully-based Ty Hafan family hospice when he hopes to complete the Virgin Money London Marathon this April 13.

The 54-year-old dad of two, due to also become a granddad next month, broke down at the 18-mile stage of the 2011 event – when his leg indicated it did not want to see him go the full 26.2-mile course.

The veteran half marathon and 10km runner dropped out of the race and was diagnosed with a “fractured neck of femur” injury requiring pain relief and surgery the following day.

Colin said: “I got a pain in my hip as if someone had given me a dead leg, but I carried on running until mile 18 when my body said probably not.

“I was carried off the course.

“I was in hospital for four days, even though the physio said eight days. I was on crutches for about three months and started running again in February 2012.

“I made a promise to my wife I wouldn’t run more than 10km which I then did.

“She’s a very reluctant supporter, but I have promised it will be my last London Marathon. She thinks I am stupid.

“I just want to raise as much as I can for Ty Hafan. We have a long association with them at the Practice.

“There are thousands of runners running for charity and I just want to be part of that. I also want to do it in under four hours, but I’m running it with my physio Rhian Davies of One-To-One Therapy.”

To sponsor Colin, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ColinBlackwell

Alternatively, visit West Quay Medical Centre, Barry, and sign a sponsorship form at reception.