NEIL Richardson will be pounding the streets of Chester to help people in Ludlow to join hands and help those in difficulties.

He is well known around Ludlow as a leading light of the town’s Churches Together group and will be running the Chester Marathon in the hope of raising £5,000 for the ‘Hands Together’ charity in Ludlow.

At one time he was the leader of the Methodist Church in this country and is a very active figure at the Methodist Church in Broad Street.

There was a time when it might have been special for someone of 71 to be running more than 26 miles but Neil Richardson is proof that ‘70 is today’s 40.’

He has lost count but thinks this will be marathon number 12 or 13 and his only concession to the passing years is that if he fails to complete the run in five hours Neil ‘might’ consider moving down to running half marathons.

“Getting ready can be time consuming and I run more days that not,” said the Rev Richardson.

“When you get to a level of fitness it is largely about maintaining it but food is also important and I shall be going to a pasta party the night before the marathon.”

He knows from experience that below the veneer of gentile prosperity there are a lot of people in Ludlow having a very difficult time.

‘Hands Together’ is an initiative to have a group of volunteers providing practical help to people who are struggling.

“There is no doubt that the cuts are very deep and people are suffering,” he said.

“We hope to respond to a variety of needs such as helping with transport and being able to drop in and befriend people that are isolated.

“There are people who struggle to find food and cook and we want to provide nutritious meals on a budget.”

The Chester Marathon is on Sunday (October 4).

People can support the charity by visiting https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Hands-Together-Ludlow