Ashworth has decided to do an additional marathon

A Preston man is preparing to run his seventh marathon in seventh months.

Ben Ashworth, who is undergoing chemotherapy for bowel cancer, finished the Berlin Marathon on Sunday and he’s now taking on the Chester Marathon.

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Ashworth decided to take on the marathon challenge of six in six months and has raised nearly £13,500 for bowel cancer charities.

He posted on his Facebook page to say: “Running the Chester Marathon tomorrow wasn’t scheduled and it’s only one week on from my last one in Berlin, but I’m determined to carry on challenging myself. As hard as the marathons have been. I’ve also enjoyed them and I really feel keeping it helps my body fight cancer.

“I want to show everyone that despite the cards I’ve been dealt I still have an amazing and rich life. I may have terminal bowel cancer, but for the time being I can run and leading an active life means I’m up and about and able to participate in family life.

“My daughters are everything to me. The week we spent away from them in Berlin was hard and I’ll miss them tomorrow, but I see hospital appointments, chemo, fundraising and fitness lime my job now. It gives my life the structure I was lacking when I was on sick leave and later when I retired on ill health grounds.

“It’s a great job, but like anyone else’s there’s some tough days, but also some rewarding ones. The hours are great and very flexible. In my old job I wasn’t able to take my daughters to or pick them up from school. Now I can do it whenever I want. I’m very lucky!”

You can follow his running on his blog and on Twitter.

And donations can be made to Ben’s total raised for CLIC Sargent, Beating Bowel Cancer, Macmillan and Rosemere Cancer Care.