TO mark his 40th birthday a Droitwich man set himself the challenge of completing the Great North Run.

Chris Dale turned 40 in April this year and decided to celebrate by joining the likes of this year's winner Mo Farah to take on the 13.1 mile course in Tyneside.

As the owner of lighting and sound equipment company, Intasound, based in Pinvin, he chose to run the race in support of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity.

He said: "Music has been a big part of my life from playing guitar in a band at ten-years-old right through until today where I am the Proprietor of Intasound Lighting, supplying sound, lighting and staging for the entertainment industry.

"I have seen first hand how powerful music can be to bring people together or bring out an emotion so when I was looking for a charity to support I was delighted to come across the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity.

"I had decided to enter the Great North Run this year to mark my 40th birthday. I have never competed in any running events and this was going to be a big challenge.

"The Nordoff Robbins charity is inspirational, using music therapy to transform the lives of vulnerable children and adults. They deliver thousands of music therapy sessions per year in care homes, day centres, hospitals, schools and their our own centres.

"My Great North Run was an amazing experience, shared with 57,000 people all running for a wide range of charities. I was very pleased with my time of 1 hour and 55 minutes."

Mr Dale is still raising money and people can support him by visiting mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/chrisdale1.