MOST people would be more than satisfied with

completing one marathon in a month - but not Guiseley man Stephen Maude.

Stephen, a service customer advisor at Glover's of Ilkley, completed his second London Marathon at the weekend in a very commendable time of three hours 42 minutes - 29 minutes better than last year and once again raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

After a day off work, he's now back in training for the Leeds Marathon on May 20 and is hoping to squeeze a little more sponsorship from those already pledged and gain new sponsors.

Stephen said: "I've managed to raise a couple of hundred pounds so far through doing the London Marathon, and I'm hoping for a few hundred more when I do Leeds later this month.

"Last year I raised £800, but I had no help from

businesses. I hope this year a few local businesses will support me.

"I love running and raising money for charity gives me the commitment and a goal at the end of it. There couldn't be a better charity for me than Marie Curie."

Stephen said that he goes running four times a week, often around Bramley and Calverley in Leeds or up to Beamsley.

"I do a regular circuit when I am training, but often I just see a place where I want to run and just go and do it. Running is second nature to me.

"Doing a marathon is gruelling but it is very worthwhile personally when you complete it, and raising money for a good cause like Marie Curie is really the icing on the cake. There's also a great atmosphere attached to marathons which I like."

Marie Curie Cancer Care community fundraising manager Brenda Doyle said: "Steve has obviously got the marathon bug and we're delighted by this.

"I'm sure everyone who watched the marathon, even from their arm chairs, wished that they could take part in such an atmospheric and exciting event.

"With a lot of hard work and commitment you can - and also raise money for Marie Curie who need the kindness and generosity of people like Steve and his sponsors to help cancer patients and their families.

"So take a tip from Steve - although we're quite happy if you run just one marathon."

Anyone wanting to support Steve in the Leeds Marathon - including local businesses - can contact him at work on (01943) 423300.