A FRODSHAM father is preparing to pound the streets of Chester after being spurred into fundraising action by his competitive wife.

On Sunday Gareth Boyd of Blue Hatch, Frodsham, will be joining thousands of other runners in the Chester MBNA Marathon to raise hundreds of pounds for Save the Family.

The 39-year-old who has run the London Marathon three times and raised thousands of pounds for charity, said that he has stepped up his training after some healthy competition from his wife Karen.

Gareth, who is a member of Helsby Running Club and will be supported by his 10-year-old daughter Hannah and wife Karen on the day, said: “I have been doing 24 mile runs in preparation for the marathon this week.

“I only really got into running long races over the past few years since my wife started running and I thought there is no way she is going to be quicker than me.”

Gareth, who works at Chester-based Adele Carr Financial Recruitment said he is hoping to finish the race in under four hours beating his personal record by about 10 minutes.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the race on Sunday my daughter will be standing watching me for about four hours as well as 10 members of my family. The atmosphere should be brilliant and it is all for a really worthwhile cause.”

You can sponsor Gareth at www. justgiving.com/ GarethBoydChesterMarathon.