Marathon year is the goal for Andy

Andy Eastwood: 14 events for charity

FOOTBALL coach Andy Eastwood is going the extra mile - - and then some - this year by tackling 14 challenges in 2014 in aid of The Christie.

And the 37 year old hopes his gruelling programme — from a triathlon to an abseil at Old Trafford — will raise at least £1,000 for the cancer-research hospital. The father-of-one, who coaches daughter Cameron’s under-14s girls team at Chadderton Park Sports Club, has already completed his first challenge.

He contended with 30mph headwinds at the recent Southport 10k run, but still managed to clock a time just a few minutes below his personal best.

Next up is the 5k Sport Relief Swimathon on March 27. Others include three of the toughest running events: the Oldham Milltown 10k, Tough Mudder over a special forces assault course and the Hell Runner fell run.

He also has to face more runs — including one in Benidorm, where his dad lives — open-water swims and the Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride.

Andy, a project co-ordinator for the NHS, said: “I have done a couple of fund-raising events in the past and I was always going to do the Manchester 10k this year.

“I had a look to see what other events I could do and I liked the look of a few of them. Before I knew it I had a few.

“With the year being 2014, I decided rather crazily that I would attempt 14.

Sponsor Andy at www.justgiving.com/AndyEastwood-GoingTheExtraMile14 and follow his progress on twitter at #GoingTheExtraMile14 .