A WINSFORD reverend conquered the London Marathon to raise money for charity.

Rev Tim Hanson at Christ Church in Wharton competed in the 26-mile run with friend Mark Sandbach on April 25.

Tim raised around £2,300 for the Neuromuscular Centre (NMC) and Mark raised £1,500.

“It was an amazing experience,” Tim said. “The crowds were extraordinary. It was like being in the middle of football crowd for 26 miles.

“The sheer number of people was incredible, there was 30,000 runners. It was amazing.”

The London Marathon was Tim’s fourth marathon. He finished in a respectable four hours and 27 minutes.

“It was alright for an old man,” Tim joked.

It was Mark’s first marathon and he finished just past the five-hour mark.

Winsford businesses The Red Lion and Cliff Dickenson and Son sponsored Tim and Crewe business Zero Enterprises sponsored Mark.

The NMC, which is based in Winsford, helps people across Cheshire with muscular dystrophy.

The centre provides specialist services for more than 700 patients with the muscle wasting condition, and is the only dedicated centre of its kind in the UK.

Children from Wharton Primary School also helped contribute to Tim’s final fundraising total. The youngsters run half-a-mile each for charity, making up 26 miles.

Their efforts helped raise £500 for the NMC.

Tim is planning on taking on the London Marathon again next year with Wharton Primary School teacher Chris Sear.

To donate to Tim’s charity marathon visit justgiving.com/Timothy-Hanson/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Timothy-Hanson&utm_campaign=pfp-share