When PE teacher James Russell went to run the New York marathon, all he expected was aches and blisters, but he became swept up in Hurricane Sandy when he stepped forward to help victims – and has now won £1,000 for his chosen charity.

Mr Russell, a teacher at Titus Salt School, Baildon, flew to the States to run in aid of Sue Ryder Homes, who have hospices at Oxenhope and Headingley, Leeds.

“I ran the London marathon in 2011 and was offered the chance of New York if I could raise, £2,750,” Mr Russell said.

But when he got there, Hurricane Sandy was hitting the East coast and the race was cancelled.

Instead of heading for the nearest bar or coffee shop, Mr Russell set off to try and help those left devastated.

“I’d gone there to raise money for a good cause and I wanted to be able to say at least I’d done something positive while I was over there,” said Mr Russell, 31.

“I spent the day on Staten Island with local people helping to clear gardens and houses. Everybody was so positive and happy that people had turned up to help them and there was a really positive atmosphere.”

And now he has won £1,000 by sending a photo of himself – in his running gear – sorting wreckage to a competition run by the organisers of his trip to the marathon, who were awarding a prize for the best picture of what runners did instead of compete.

“Obviously it was a disappointment that I didn’t get to complete a marathon, however, after seeing the aftermath, it was the right decision to make and it has led to me raising £3,500 for Sue Ryder already,” he said.

And there will also be a bucket collection for Mr Russell, a keen Bantams’ fan, when Bradford City play Oxford at Valley Parade on January 12.

He still intends to run a New Year marathon starting from his home in Menston, so that those who sponsored him will get their money’s worth.

“Hopefully I may get a deferred place to New York next year, but I’m also getting married that year so it may be the year after that,” Mr Russell said.