Bristol runner adds to his £250,000 fund-raising total

Veteran runner Ernie Popel has added another £800 to the £250,000 he has raised over the years for charity.

Mr Popel, 62, raised the money with his wife June and they have donated it to St Peter's Hospice.

The money he has collected over the last 20 years, by taking part in events including the London Marathon and a walk from Land's End to John O'Groats, which took him 28 days, has gone to St Peter's Hospice and Cancer Research UK.

The former Evening Post Gold Star winner said: "I have done the Bristol Half Marathon every year since it began 21 years ago.

"We started supporting St Peter's as they cared for my brother Roger and my wife's sister, Sue. The people of south Bristol always dig deep for St Peter's Hospice and, although it's been tough this year with the credit crunch, we still managed to raise £800 sponsorship for doing the half marathon."

Sandie Foxall Smith, chief executive of St Peter's Hospice, visited the Sartan Club at Bishopsworth to say thank you to the Hartcliffe couple.

She said: "We're so grateful to Ernie, June and the people of south Bristol for their continuing support."