Andy takes on three peaks and then London Marathon for Alfie

When Andy Wray joins thousands of runners for this weekend’s London marathon, he will already have complated a gruelling challenge.

The physiotherapist and former Hunslet Hawks player from Ripon will have cycled almost 800 miles, run up and down the three national peaks – before tackling the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday.

The father-of-two, aims to raise £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust after seeing how his friend Keith Brook’s son Alfie from Wakefield has been affected by the condition.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening inherited disease, which affects almost 10,000 people in the UK by clogging vital organs with thick, sticky mucus. There is presently no cure.

“Alfie has to do daily breathing exercises and clear his lungs regularly. To him, breathing difficulties are normal.

“But children like him deserve every chance at life and I would love to see the money I raise go towards research so they have a better future. I remember children at school with the condition and they only lives until 20 now the life expectancy is at least 40 so they are making progress.”

Andy, joined by friend Richard Peak, started his challenge last weekend tackling Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales.

He will cycle between the countries before biking to London for the climax of the five-day trip.His friend David Arundell, 73, will join him for the London Marathon as part of Team iGotDoms, which is named after Andy’s sportswear business.

“Our friendship developed after he helped me get a hold of my dirnking which was a culture with rugby league and we stayed friends ever since. When he found out what I was doing he said he had relatives with cystic fiborisi and he wanted to run the marathon too. I think that’s inspirational.”

Last year Andy raised £27,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by cycling two passengers in a rickshaw from Harrogate to the charity’s headquarters in London, before doing the London Marathon.

“I know physcially I can do it as I have done endurance events before. I am hoping to do the marathon in five hours but I don’t know how realistic that is after all the thing I have done before it as we are to do Snowden and get to London in 24 hours - it will be a sprint finish.”