A PE teacher is taking part in this year’s Great North Run as his final charity challenge after setting out to do an A-Z of activities to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Paul Donaghy, from Durham, is taking on the half marathon with his 18-year-old daughter Lauren, who has just left Durham Johnston School.

They are running to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice, in Newcastle, which cared for Mr Donaghy’s mum Pat during the final days of her life.

The half marathon is his “H” activity for his A-Z of challenges, which has also seen him zip-line across the Tyne, and have a go at things like quidditch, axe-throwing and curling.

Mr Donaghy, a teacher at the Durham Federation in Ushaw Moor, said: “It was just after my mam’s 50th birthday when she passed away so we’ve always tried to do something most years to raise some money for them. I wanted to do something great this year.

“It’s been good fun and people have helped along the way. “

Mr Donaghy, a Durham Harriers runner, has completed the event around 10 times already but has not done it in a few years as he and Lauren have been helping out at the finish line instead.

It will be Lauren’s first Great North Run and they will be joined by other family members.

Mr Donaghy needs to raise around £100 more to reach his target of £1,967 for the year, which is also the year he was born.

He added: “So far Lauren and I have been training together but it has just crept up on us and now I can’t believe how close it is.

“I think the crowds carry you, the atmosphere is incredible and you really can’t live it unless you’ve done it.”

Helen Alderson, senior fundraiser at the hospice, said: “Paul is such a keen fundraiser it’s great to help him out through his adventures. Completing the Great North Run with his daughter is a lovely idea and I’m sure there’ll be some rivalry in there too.

“Taking on this mammoth challenge as a family is as Paul says, a lovely reunion but also a great source of motivation to complete the race, whilst having fun at the same time. We can’t thank you enough Paul and Lauren – and everyone else running this year for Team St Oswald’s.”

To sponsor the dad and daughter team visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-donaghy50