INTERNATIONAL basketball star John Amaechi will present prizes at a charity race in memory of a Bolton father of five.

Manchester-raised Amaechi, who plays in America's National Basketball Association, is set to attend the Smith Knight Fay Audi 10 kilometre mini-marathon in memory of Ian Hales, who was killed in a freak jet ski accident in Blackpool on Good Friday last year.

Mr Hales died instantly when his jet ski struck a steel stanchion at Blackpool's North Pier.

Around 1,000 people are expected to take part in the event, which will be held at Leverhulme Athletics Stadium, Long Lane, Breightmet, on Sunday.

Mr Hales' wife Deborah, who was also on the jet ski and was badly injured, will be at the stadium, and three of the couple's five children will be participating in the race.

A large number of international and Olympic-class runners will be taking part in the run, which is set to start at 10am.

Money raised from the event will be donated to the Ian Hales Trust Fund, which aims to provide for underprivileged athletes in and around the Bolton area.

It is also hoped that the fund can donate money to lifeboat charities and the Victoria Hospital in Blackpool, where Mrs Hales spent a month in intensive care.

Honeycomb Leisure have donated two two-night breaks in the UK as part of the prizes, and refreshments for the race will be provided by Asda.

Anyone wishing to enter can turn up on Sunday for either the main race at 10am, or a children's fun run at 9am.