A YORK man celebrated his 50th birthday by completing the Great North Run to raise money for poverty-hit communities in Africa.

Richard Vis said he was optimistic he would reach his target to raise £1,000 for the Catholic aid agency CAFOD.

Mr Vis, a parishioner at St Aelred’s Church in York, said: “Thanks to the kind sponsorship of my friends, we are on course to raise £1,000 this year. Last year I managed to raise half that amount and that has been a great motivation for me in completing this year’s event.

“I have just turned 50 and this is definitely a good birthday present for me.’’ Meanwhile Richard Sunley, 25, of Clog Mill Gardens in Selby, raised more than £260 for Parkinson’s UK when he finished the run in a time of 1hr 57mins.

Arnold Maclaren, 66, of Cedarwood Close in York, also ran for Parkinson’s UK, raising more than £270 and finishing in 3hrs 2mins.

Meanwhile, Mark Harney, a member of York Acorn & City of York AC, and Louise Butcher, of Fulford School, also took part, finishing in 1hr 26mins and 2hrs 33mins respectively.