GEORGE Peszynski will run in the Bristol half marathon tomorrow, less than two years after suffering a heart attack.

It is his way of showing his appreciation and thanks for still being around. He aims to raise £2,500 to support the British Heart Foundation.

George, 71, from Henleaze thought he had indigestion when he suffered chest pain in November 2006 and endured a weekend of pain before seeing his doctor the following Monday.

It turned out he had been suffering a heart attack and was taken to Southmead Hospital before being transferred to Bristol Royal Infirmary.

A stent to open up a blocked artery was inserted and George was put on medication, which he will have to take all his life.

George, who was the honorary consul for Poland in the South West, had to retire from his busy role supporting the region's Polish community but since then he has fought his way back to fitness.

"The first year was very difficult. I had a tremendous amount of chest pain and there were two occasions when I ended up in hospital again because I thought I had suffered further heart attacks," he said.

George went to a recovery programme for heart attack patients at Horfield Sports Centre and exercised at Henbury Sports Centre twice a week.

"I was making reasonable progress and I joined a walking group. Someone in the group jokingly said "If you can walk like this you should do the half marathon"," he said.

"We all laughed but I thought it was a dream worth pursuing."

George and his wife Krystyna have already had pledges of more than £2,500.

His friend Gordon Thomas will be jogging the course with him in aid of St Peter's Hospice.

They hope to complete the 13 miles course in about three hours.

George said: "So many lovely people have sponsored us, I don't want to let them down."

You can support George by sending cheques payable to the British Heart Foundation to him, care of Henbury Leisure Centre, Avonmouth Way, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7NG.

The Reebok Bristol Half Marathon has become the region's most popular race. This year the 20,000 runners will be split in faster and slower groups.