Paul gets a bite of the Big Apple

DREAM run . . . Paul Collinge (centre) with JW Lees managing director, William Lees-Jones (left) and Sport Tours International race director, Graham Jackson

A BREWERY worker has won the dream chance of running the New York City Marathon.

Paul Collinge won JW Lees’s Live the Dream employee initiative, which encourages workers to vote for the colleague they think most deserves their dream.

Now, with his prize from Sports Tours International and a £5,000 donation from his employer, Paul is well on the way to running the 26 miles.

And he has decided to raise money for a charity close to the heart of the company’s managing director, William Lees-Jones — the Mahdlo project.

Mahdlo, the £5 million youth zone currently being built in Oldham, will boast facilities including a sports hall, outdoor pitch, boxing gym and climbing wall.

The Greengate brewery will be helping Paul raise as much money as possible for Mahdlo, which needs to find £1 million annually for running costs.

Having already completed around 50 marathons around the world, Paul is keen to add New York on November 6, to his list.

He said: “I was shocked when I was anounced the winner, I couldn’t believe it. I have been running for 30 years but have never been to New York.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the sights and completing one of the most famous marathons in the world before my legs give up!”