A FITNESS fan is to complete a marathon on a rowing machine to raise money for a cancer sufferer.

David Horan, a member of the Lifestyle Fitness Suite in Sunnydale Leisure Centre, Shildon, is to complete the challenge for the Pam Aston Flight For Life appeal.

Mr Horan, 35, from Shildon, has been a member of the suite for five years.

He has long dreamed of completing the marathon task.

After hearing of the Flight For Life appeal, he decided to give himself an extra incentive by raising money through sponsorship.

In preparation for the marathon, Mr Horan has already completed a 1,500-minute club challenge, which involved completing 1,500 minutes solely on the Concept II rower in seven weeks, a huge challenge in itself.

The appeal is aiming to raise £20,000 to send 46-year-old mother-of-one Pam Aston to the Issells clinic, in Mexico, for urgent treatment.

Intensive fundraising since the end of May to help send her to the Oasis of Hope Hospital, in Tijuana, Mexico, has so far raised about £13,500.

Lifestyle Fitness Suites have backed the campaign by offering to match whatever Mr Horan raises through his efforts.

He will be completing the marathon next Saturday.

Mr Horan intends to start rowing at 10am and hopes to have completed the target he has set himself by 1.30pm.

Anyone wishing to sponsor him or to watch the fundraising challenge will be welcome at the leisure centre.

For more information telephone (01388) 777340.