YORK runners are to cross the Atlantic to join 30,000 others in this year's New York Marathon on November 3.

Members of the Knavesmire Harriers running club and former York student Charlotte Dangerfield will be travelling to the Big Apple for the 26-mile run.

Charlotte, 25, will be attempting the run for the first time and will be raising money for St Leonard's Hospice in York.

The former York College for Girls pupil used to live in Bishopthorpe. She will be running with her rowing coach from Newcastle University, Rob Whitaker, who is also funding the flight.

Charlotte's mother, Hilary Dangerfield of Huby, near Easingwold, said: "Charlotte's grandmother was lovingly cared for and sadly passed away in the Pilgrim Hospice in Canterbury Kent, earlier this year, so she is determined to raise as much money as possible for hospices."

Charlotte will be pounding the streets along with 14 members of the Knavesmire Harriers. The group is raising money for Action Research along with the Lord Mayor's charities for this year which are SNAPPY, and Shopmobility York.

They will carry a message of greeting from the Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, to the New York Mayor, David Bloomberg.

To sponsor the Knavesmire Harriers cheques, made payable to Action Research A Team, can be sent to Frank Holden, 17 Walnut Close, Heslington, York, Y010 5EZ, or phone (01904) 415142.

To sponsor Charlotte send cheques made payable to St Leonard's Hospice to Lindsay Goode, Hythe Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent TN24 ONE.

Updated: 10:02 Monday, October 28, 2002