A HARROW man forced to drop out of the London Marathon after being hurt in a road accident has run another race.

Charles Keighley, of Church Avenue, Rayners Lane, who turned 50 on Friday, was due to compete in the 26 mile run in April for the first time to raise funds for the National Autistic Society, a cause dear to his heart as his 11-year-old son, Richard, has Asperger's syndrome, an autistic disorder.

But he was unable to take part after being knocked off his bike by a motorist and badly injuring his leg as he cycled home.

Not only did the accident scupper his ambition to run the marathon before he was 50, it put at risk his £3,000 sponsorship. But on Sunday last week he took part in the Halstead marathon in Essex.

He said: "It was a massive blow and I was really disappointed. I'd been training for months and didn't want it all to be in vain. Not wishing to let down either my sponsors or myself, I decided to look for an alternative.

"It's longer than the London marathon and a rather hilly route. I completed it in four hours 16 minutes. I was absolutely shattered at the end and I could barely move the next day, but I loved it.

"I've registered to take part in next year's London Marathon and plan to run Halstead again to see if I can improve my time."

May 29, 2003 14:00