THE memory of a loved one has helped one man run more than 170 miles in the name of charity – and he is still going.

Matthew Bowman has set a leg-shattering target of running 19 different races all around the world over eight months.

The dad-of-one is tiring out his trainers in aid of Bolton Hospice which cared for his grandad Les Griffiths before he died at the age of 76 from cancer.

Mr Bowman, whose family lives in Smithills , originally started running back in 2014 to lose weight and ran two half marathons before vowing to do more.

He said: "This year I decided to run another and one thing led to another and I've signed up for 19 races. So far I've done 11, I've ran three half-marathons, five 10ks, two marathons and an ultra-marathon.

"I raised £750 for the hospice last year and have raised £770 so far this year. With my pain I can give something back for what the hospice and staff did for us, it's just a thank you.

"My grandad would have been as proud of me as I am of him. I've got his name tattooed an our motto was 'forever proud', he's with me every step of the way."

The 38-year-old, who now lives in Merseyside, has lost six stone in his time running, dropping from 16.5 stone in weight to 10.5 and can run a marathon in three hours and 25 minutes.

Last month he completed a double marathon, also known as a ultra-marathon, which ran over 53.5 miles.

The Race To The King Ultra-Marathon was his ultimate challenge and his most proud achievement so far, completing it in a time of 14 hours.

He added: "Through blazing sun, lashing rain, thunder and lightning I completed Race to the King. It’s my greatest achievement to date and won’t be topped! The enormity of it all hasn't sunk in yet."

He has also taken part in the Bolton 10k, Vienna Marathon and Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon.

He now aims to take on races including the London Marathon, the Boston Marathon and the Loch Ness Marathon this September.