Leeds 10K: Clowning around to help heroes from war zones

The 53-year-old seasoned runner has competed in many runs over 30 years, but never in a clown suit.

And yesterday was the first time in many years that he has decided to raise money for a charity, previously preferring to run for fun and fitness.

Mr Ives, of Gargarve, near Skipton, has been raising money alongside his wife, Hazel, and her friend Sue Burton, whose stepson Nathan Burton is a Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan and returned home safe five weeks ago.

In April, he raised 1,750 for Help for Heroes by doing the London Marathon and yesterday's 10k will have raised a bit more, although he is not sure how much exactly.

He has completed all four of the Jane Tomlinson Leeds 10k runs and is tackling the York 10k sister event in August.

Yesterday was his first time in a fancy dress suit and it left him with blisters on both feet, a result of the cumbersome clown shoes, possibly the worst possible footwear for running.

He has been able to post just over 36 minutes for a 10k, but yesterday with the costume and clown shoes he finished in 46 minutes and 30 seconds.

Mr Ives is a member of the Masons Arms Golf Society in Gargrave which helped raise a lot of the Help for Heroes

money.

A large chunk of the remainder of the money raised so far, around 1,000, was collected by Ms Burton, who works at Long Ashes leisure park in Grassington.