A RUNNER from Otley is celebrating raising more than £8,500 for charity.

Danny Cooney only took up the sport two years ago but since then has finished 11 marathons for a variety of good causes.

He was actually aiming to go one further and complete a '12 marathons in 24 months' challenge.

A knee injury, however, meant Danny had to pull out of what would have been the final stage - the Cork Marathon, in Ireland, on June 3.

Despite that setback, he is delighted to have finished nearly a dozen long-distance races in Spain, Portugal and Ireland in an average time of three and a half hours.

He is also proud to have, with support from other fundraisers in town, raised so much for a number of charities.

Recently he presented the Headingley-based Little Sisters Of The Poor, which cares for the elderly and sick, with a cheque for £800.

He also donated £500 to past Otley Town Mayor Nigel Francis' 14+1 appeal and, by organising a family run, raised £400 for the Otley 198 Group's Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust.

He said: "I have been very lucky to have had this opportunity and to be supported so well, but I have literally run myself into the ground and need a new pair of legs!

"Hopefully I can restart in the autumn and help some more of these great charities - it is very rewarding.

"I have had a great time taking part in the marathons but they never get any easier, I was really poor in the last two races and just happy to finish at all.

"The support from the local community through fundraising, though, makes it all worthwhile and seeing friends and colleagues taking up the sport is rewarding, too."

Danny aims to start a new series of marathons or half-marathons in October taking a summer break.

He next plans to raise money for The Stroke Association, the Ghana Water Project, and Otley Town Mayor Mary Vickers' charities - Behind Closed Doors and the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts of Otley Parish Church