A MAN is running 52 races in 52 weeks to raise money for charities across the UK.

Peter Redwood-Smith, 23, of Rayleigh, was passing a poster advertising the Royal Princes Half Marathon for Great Ormond Street Hospital when he decided to sign up.

But the former pet shop owner didn’t stop there and is now part way through a “mammoth” challenge to raise money for 12 charities by running a race a week.

Peter, of Daws Heath Road, said: “I had never done a real race before in my life. I wasn’t a member of any running club.

“But I went down to London on October 8 and I raised £362 for Great Ormond Street. It was a fantastic experience and it just motivated me.

“I decided to set myself a challenge and run one every week and help a lot of great causes. It really does push me.”

Peter, who doesn’t drive, used to run the three and a half miles to his pet shop and back every day.

Now he sells animal supplies from home, he is running several different routes a week to get himself into peak physical shape for the challenges.

So far he has run 13 races, and hopes to run the rest by the start of November. While most of the time he races in shorts and a t-shirt, Peter has occasionally dressed up as Deadpool, Freddie Kruger and even in a mankini.

Peter said: “It is only a challenge I have set myself, but I really want to accomplish it.

“There are some races which will be tougher than others, including the Man v Mountain race which is 22 miles up Snowdon. I am also running a double marathon in June which will be 52.4 miles.

“I am loving it so far.

“It’s a big challenge. Most people will do a one off thing for charity and won’t do another again. But I didn’t want to do that. I have picked several UK charities in the hope of reaching as many different people as possible to donate.

“So far I have nine but I am hoping for 12 so I will run for each charity a month.”

Peter sets up a new Just Giving page for each race he participates in. To donate, search for Peter Redwood-Smith.