A YORK man who has won recognition for his marathon charity efforts is setting out on a globe-trotting fundraising challenge.

Colin Lea was named Volunteer Of The Year in The Press Community Pride awards in 2013.

Now Colin and his partner, David Darton, are embarking on “four in four on four for four” - meaning they will attempt to run four marathons in four weeks, across four different continents, to raise funds for four different charities.

Colin said: “Against the odds, both my partner and I succeeded in the ballot for places in the Tokyo Marathon on February 23 and we have decided to turn this into a fundraising challenge.”

David found the three other events online and put together the month-long challenge which includes the Tokyo marathon, the Mountain To Surf Marathon in New Zealand on March 2; the Red Rock Canyon race near Las Vegas on March 8; and the Limassol Marathon in Cyprus on March 16.

Colin said: “We are looking forward to the Tokyo Marathon, but perhaps the most exciting is the Mountain To Surf as the first part is down the side of a mountain which may mean we can get a good time if we are careful to pace it right.

“We are looking forward to them all because they are so contrasting.

The Red Rock Canyon is a tough hilly race with two steep and long climbs, while the Cyprus one will be along the coast. “ The challenge has got even harder for David, who fought back from four weeks of cold viruses only to break his wrist.

He said he is determined to complete the races, even if he has to run with his arm in plaster.

David and Colin will travel from York to Japan, on to New Zealand then to Fiji for a three-day break before heading to Las Vegas in the USA.

After the American race they will stop off at home in York for a few days before jetting off to Cyprus for the last race. They hope to raise sponsorship money for four organisations close to their hearts – the Red Cross, the Brain Tumour Charity, Diabetes UK and the Richmond Fellowship.

They are covering all the costs of the trips themselves, meaning all cash raised will go straight to the charities.

The pair have also set up an online giving page for their challenge at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/4on4