A regional daily sports journalist who was diagnosed with arthritis five years ago is bidding to run 60 miles in memory of his late grandmother.

Richard Mason, who works on the sports desk at the Northern Echo, is defying doctors’ orders in a bit to raise cash for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The 29-year-old, pictured left, has already completed a half-marathon in Sunderland and a 5k race in Middlesbrough.

Now he is setting his sights on four more events – the Darlington 10K, Teesside Pride 10K, the world-famous Great North Run and the Redcar Half-Marathon.

Richard was diagnosed with osteoarthritis – a condition that affects the joints – five years ago and was told to avoid high-impact sports.

However his determination to raise moeny for the Alzheimer’s Society comes from seeing his family deal with dementia

Said Richard:  “The Alzheimer’s Society is a cause close to my heart as my Gran, Audrey, died in the early 90s after complications with dementia.

“I have been aware of it since an early age and I think that it is so important to raise awareness for those diagnosed and the people around them that are also affected.

“This time last year I could barely even run a mile but my sister-in-law persuaded me to enter the Great North Run – for a homeless charity – and after the first few weeks of training I got the running bug.

“I made it my New Year’s Resolution to run more and plan to run 60 miles this year. I’m taking on three half marathons, three 10ks and a 5k all in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and the Finlay Cooper Fund.”

Liam Brown, the Newcastle-based Alzheimer’s Society community fundraiser for North East & Cumbria, hailed Richard as an inspiration.

‘We are delighted that Richard is supporting Alzheimer’s Society with what I think is fair to describe as an inspirational running challenge,” he said.

To support Richard’s fundraising efforts visit his donation page.