An ex-squaddie who pledged to run 100 marathons has hung up his running shoes.
Marathon man Simon Buckden called time on his challenge after running 51 marathons.
The 40-year-old former Royal Signalman, who pledged to run 100 marathons in 100 weeks, started his challenge two years ago – but he suffered a setback when he was diagnosed with cancer in February last year.
Mr Buckden, from Bramley, Leeds, has won his battle with cancer but has decided to end his marathon challenge.
He started the gruelling runs to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Mr Buckden was diagnosed with PTSD in 2005 which was triggered by the horrors he witnessed during two tours of Bosnia in the mid-1990s.
But despite ending his marathon he said still wants to remain focused on raising awareness of PTSD.
Mr Buckden said: “The challenge was never about the marathons, the marathons were a platform to create greater awareness of PTSD.
“Even though I’ve got the all clear from cancer there is irreparable damage.”
He is now working on a new challenge to create a national PTSD awareness day.
Mr Buckden discovered at the end of last year that he had won his battle with cancer and is now in remission.
The YEP earlier reported that just days after Mr Buckden was diagnosed with cancer he was selected to be an Olympic torch bearer in Leeds as part of the country-wide relay ahead of the Olympic Games.
He proposed to his girlfriend Louisa Rodriguez following the relay.
During his marathon challenge he raised around £16,000 for Help For Heroes and the Roundhay Park Run, which he set up, will celebrate its second birthday this year.
For more information visit: simonbuckden.com.