A Northampton-based sales manager has helped raise hundreds of pounds for charity after taking part in a gruelling 62-mile ultra-marathon.

Craig Fuller, who works for reusable vehicle graphics firm Spedian, tackled the brutal South Coast Challenge in a bid to raise funds for Hemi-Chat.

The 36-year-old completed the 100km run, along with his friend Leon Moxam, in 17 hours raising more than £800 for the national charity, which supports adults and children who suffer with Hemi-plegia ' full or part paralysis on one side of the body.

Craig and Leon ' who have been friends since their school days ' were among hundreds of runners on this extended marathon which started in Eastbourne and finished in Arundel.

And Craig, who has been running marathons for eight years, said this latest feat ' only the second 100km run he has ever completed ' proved to be the biggest challenge of his life.

'I have never put myself through something so gruelling before,' said Craig.

'With the hills and terrain as it was, this was the toughest challenge of my life. In total it took 17 hours to complete. Although we had been training for the past six months it was still hard. But once we crossed the finish line it all seemed worth it'

The pair chose to raise money for Hemi-Chat as it's a cause close to the heart of Leon and his family.

Leon's youngest daughter Gracie has partial paralysis to the right side of her body and has been helped through this condition by Hemi-Chat. The charity is one of the key reasons she is able to be completely independent.

Craig added: 'Hemi-Chat is an incredible charity which has proved vital for Leon, Gracie and the rest of the family. They provide much-needed support ranging from putting you in contact with similar families to ensuring you have the right medical professionals to help.

'We wanted to do give something back to this incredible organisation and running the South Coast Challenge seemed like a good way to achieve this.

'Both Leon and I felt incredibly proud to have run the 100km for Hemi-Chat. Their work inspired us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. When we crossed that finish line, I think we were both just so relieved it was over!'

The appeal has so far raised a staggering £864 but the pair are still hoping to smash the £1,000 mark within the next fortnight through their Just Giving website page at https://www.justgiving.com/leon-moxam?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=leon-moxam&utm_campaign=pfp-email