HAVING last year achieved his goal of completing 400 marathons and raising £50,000 for charity, one could have been forgiven for thinking that David Phillips would finally take off his running shoes and put his feet up.

Far from it. With the 2013 London Marathon fast approaching, David, who is a member of the Pembrokeshire Harriers, contacted the Observer to tell us that 'Team Phillips' would again be taking part this year.

"The Brain and Spine Foundation and Daily Telegraph (whose team of 50 runners I will lead at London) have again raised my bar and will now not let me go until 500 marathons are run and £75k is raised," said Dave, who divides his time with his family between Penally and Claverdon, near Stratford in Warwickshire.

"So at today's date that's 80 more marathons and £20k to go, as I beat last year's expectations," added the 'veteran' runner, who took part in his first marathon way back in 1982. "Never did I think then that over 30 years later, I'd still be at it.

"This year my team mates will be Dave Goodwin and Anne-Marie Paszkiewicz. They are both also from Massey Ferguson Runners, Coventry, where I am captain. Dave is chairman and Anne is secretary and the Brain and Spine Foundation is once again our charity (my 13th year with them).

"Founded by neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn, the charity is very small, but extremely personal, and their work for people with brain and associated spinal problems is immense, but of course funds don't come easily for them," explained David, who added that their honorary team captain this year is (seven months pregnant) Dame Sarah Storey, the multi medal paralympian at swimming and cycling, who was made a dame after her success in the recent Olympics.

Anyone wishing to donate to David's charity cause can do so through the Team Phillips fundraising webpage at http://www.justgiving.com">www.justgiving.com