Society's cash help for marathon hero Mark 11 / 11 / 2011

LEEK United has given airman Mark Standish a flying start to his fundraising for Britain's armed forces heroes.

Mark - who has recently returned from serving in Afghanistan - completed the Liverpool Marathon in aid of the Help for Heroes* charity.

The Society backed his effort with a cheque for £50, presented to him by Clare Beardmore, Manager of Leek United's Hanley branch.

"We're delighted to help Mark raise money for a very worthy cause," said Clare. "He has close links to this area - his wife, Claire, was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, and he's just been posted to RAF Cosford, near our Market Drayton branch."

Mark joined around 12,000 other runners in the marathon - the first to be held in his home city for 18 years - and completed the gruelling course in four hours and 15 minutes.

*Help for Heroes is a charity dedicated to helping those who have been wounded in Britain's current conflicts.

To find out more, visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk