A 31-year-old sub-editor who has cystic fibrosis is hoping to raise £31,000 during 2010 by running 31 road races – including the London Marathon.

Alan Williams, from the Plymouth-based Western Morning News, is raising the cash for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust which funds research into the condition.

Alan has been running seriously for around three years and trains with a club in Cornwall.

He recently completed the Tokyo Marathon (left) and joins the list of regional press journalists who will be pounding the streets of London on 25 April in the capital’s annual 26.2-mile race.

Alan is also planning to run half marathons in Taunton and Tavy before the big day in London and by the end of 2010 will have covered around 500 miles in races alone.

He told HTFP that the average life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis is 31, which he reached on Christmas Day last year, so he wanted to give something back to the charity.

He added: “Just over two months in, everything is going great – I have chalked off six of my 31 races and there is around £4,500 in the fundraising kitty.

“The Tokyo Marathon was an amazing experience, particularly as I was followed around by a film crew for three days and featured on the national NHK News channel.

“Things are going to get extremely busy over the next few weeks as I only have one weekend without a race between now and June, as well as trying to fit in some fundraising around the small matter of the day job.

“But I’ve had great support from family, friends and work and I hope that will continue for the rest of the year.”

More information about his challenge can be found on his dedicated website run31.org.uk and he can be sponsored on his online fundraising page.