A WHARFEDALE runner will take on his sixth marathon of the past 12 months for charity this weekend.

Otley resident Danny Cooney will round off an extraordinary year of fundraising by competing in the Menorca Ultra Trail Marathon on Saturday, May 20.

He has already raised thousands for a variety of causes through his previous five marathons, and this time will be running for the Yorkshire Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

He said: "I have never done any off road, trail running before so this will be a new experience and one I can really relax and enjoy, with no time limits.

"It has been an amazing year and the best thing of all, apart from being able to help other people, has been to see friends taking up the sport and doing fundraising too.

"Anything is possible with hard work and support from the local community."

Danny has already completed marathons in Cork, Dublin, Lanzarote, Barcelona and Madrid within the past year.

Those runs have raised money for the Lily Foundation, Martin House Children's Hospice, Otley and District Talking Newspaper, HCPT Otley 198 Group and the Society of Vincent De Paul.

Danny is hoping to his his overall target of £6,000 by the end of this month - and will hold a final fundraising coffee morning at Our Lady and All Saints Church's parish centre, Clitherow House, on Sunday, May 28 from 9.30am.