12:40pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
By Jasmin McDermott
A MARATHON addict is limbering up for his seventh race in three years to raise cash for the charity which cared for his late grandfather.
Joe Elliott, 23, of Stadium Road, Southend, will be running the Real Berlin Marathon on September 26, a route which will circle the entire city as well as taking runners past parts of the iconic Berlin wall.
He is hoping to smash his target of £1,000 for the Parkinson’s Disease Society in memory of his grandad, Colin Denson, a Parkinson’s sufferer who died in 2005.
Joe, who works for Lloyd’s of London, said: “I am a bit of a newbie to running marathons, but I have to admit, since I ran my first one, I have become a bit of an addict.
“I am going to keep on running them and raise as much money as I can.
“I love marathon running and I am doing this in memory of my grampy and also for my nanny for her strength and determination.
“It sounds like a fantastic course and I am really looking forward to the challenge after I ran the London marathon earlier this year.”
Joe, who has run four London Marathons as well as events in Italy and New York, first tackled the gruelling challenge in 2007.
Since then, he has raised more than £20,000 for the charity and he now has his sights set on completing the major marathons, in which he is yet to run – Boston and Chicago.
He added: “ I have been running 50 to 60 miles per week, but I have been taking it easy because I am still recovering from a muscle injury.
“Before I did my first marathon I had never really done much running before, I just did football, but I have to say it is very addictive once you start.”
To sponsor Joe, visit www.justgiving.com/Joe-Elliott0.
He is also holding a raffle, with a prize of a short break in Devon, to add to his fundraising total.
Tickets, which cost £5 each or £10 for five, are available by calling him on 07904 083080.
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