Pair's marathon target to help hospice

Chris Inett and Julie Hinde are raising money for Compton Hospice and the Motor Neurone Association. They will run the Dublin Marathon on October 29.

But first they are raising sponsorship with a quiz night at 48-year-old Mrs Hinde's pub on Sunday. The Hollybush in Ebstree, South Staffordshire, is hosting the event at 7pm.

Mr Inett, aged 47, has been friends with Mrs Hinde for more than three years and his farm, Furnace Grange in Trescott, supplies its potatoes. A friend of Mrs Hinde's was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease while Mr Inett had a cancer scare 14 months ago. He said he had always wanted to run a marathon.

He has already done sponsored walks including the Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire, Scafell Pike in Cumbria and the 25-mile West Coast Challenge and has raised money for Compton Hospice.

But Mrs Hinde suggested the pair run a marathon together.

Mr Inett said: "Julie has a friend who she has known for many years who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone's Disease who will need to go into Compton Hospice. We're hoping to raise sponsorship with the quiz and hope as many people as possible can come along on Sunday."

Mrs Hinde took over the Hollybush in May 2009 and used thousands of pounds of her own savings to get it back to its former glory. Prior to that it had been boarded up for 14 months.

But Mrs Hinde created 18 jobs by bringing it back into use and a year later it was named inn of the year in the Taste of Staffordshire competition. For details on the quiz, or to offer sponsorship, call 01902 326249.