An airline company’s finance director will be hoping to fly through the streets of New York to raise money for cancer research.

Runner Andrew Merrick will head to the States for one of the world’s greatest marathons complete with views of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings.

The 50-year-old, who works for Jet2.com at Leeds-Bradford International Airport, will be running for Yorkshire Cancer Research in memory of his parents who both died from the disease.

“I started running again in October 2008 when my father died of cancer,” said Mr Merrick, from Ilkley. “I promised him I would stay fit. Shortly afterwards my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she died earlier this year. So now I am running for both of them.”

He is no stranger to marathons, having completed the London Marathon – but with its spectacular bridges and the hills in Central Park, the New York event, which takes place on Sunday, November 6, is considered tougher.

“After a few glasses of wine during a dinner just before Christmas 2000, I found myself committing to run the London marathon in April, 2001 just before my 40th birthday,” Mr Merrick said. “Since October 2008, running has become an important part of my life, with the support of some good friends from the Ilkley Harriers.

“So to celebrate my 50th, I will be running the New York Marathon and raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research.”

Mr Merrick is funding his own trip, so all contributions will go towards supporting further research into cancer.

He has raised more than £1,600 and to sponsor him go to justgiving.com /andrew-merrick.

Based in Harrogate and founded in 1925, Yorkshire Cancer Research funds world-class research, treatment and diagnosis projects throughout the region.

It currently funds around 200 scientists and clinicians at its five centres of excellence in Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York.

For more details, go to yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk.