A DELIVERY driver has said he will carry on fundraising in memory of his wife after he completed the Great North Run at the weekend.

Paul Turnbull, from Tebay, took on the half-marathon to raise funds for the charities that helped him and his wife Mags when she was diagnosed with cancer and later died in 2019.

He has so far managed to raise more than £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland.

“Because of the support they gave us I want to do everything I can to help them out in return,” said Mr Turnbull.

"It was hard work but worth it.

"Three hours of me suffering helps prevent a lifetime of suffering for someone else.

"My suffering will end, some people's won't.

“And because it was the 40th one it was a bit special and I did it in memory of Mags.

“The support they gave us was invaluable.”

Last year the 56-year-old transformed a bus shelter in Tebay into a memorial to his wife, who had driven the 106 bus from Penrith to Kendal, and later the school bus from Tebay to Sedbergh, and began each school run from the bus shelter in Mount Pleasant.

And he completed the run in three hours, 30 minutes and 41 seconds.

“It was a hard course, I did the first half relatively easily but I struggled on the second half,” said Mr Turnbull.

"The atmosphere on the day is fantastic and I would encourage anyone thinking of doing it to go for it."

He currently has no plans to repeat the run, which he had previously completed for the first time 17 years ago, but is determined to carry on fundraising for the good causes.

“Without a doubt,” he said.

“I’ll definitely do more fundraisers in the future.”

And he has thanked everyone for their support after he was inundated with messages of goodwill ahead of the race.

“I had a lot of support and good luck messages, it was fantastic," he said.

“That’s what helped me get round.

"I can't thank people enough for the support and good wishes."

If you would like to donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/runformags21