A VILLAGE is uniting behind a man who is running the New York marathon as a thank you for the hospital treatment his father received.

Fred Atkinson's decision to run in the event, on November 2, has already brought hundreds of pounds pouring into his fund for Cancer Research UK.

Super-fit Fred, a 25-year-old former pupil of Ripon College, is now taking a masters' degree in management at Bath University.

In 2001, his father, David, 60, battled throat cancer for six months but Fred, of Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, was so impressed by his treatment, he decided to raise money for the cancer charity.

His mother, Barbara, said: "It seems as if the whole community has come out to support Fred's efforts. Already there is more than £1,500 in the bank account from sponsorship before the run has started."

Dozens of other residents are backing projects and a fundraising event is being held at Kirkby's Mechanics' Institute, on Saturday, to further boost sponsorship coffers.

Offers of sponsorship can be made by calling (01765) 650043.