A ‘superman’ will be donning his trusty cape for the 288th time as he prepares to run in the London marathon.

John Wallace, 58, will race on April 13 in aid of North London Hospice in what will be his 288th run.

The hospice supports people with life-limiting illnesses in Barnet,  Enfield and Haringey.

Mr Wallace, of Connaught Avenue, Enfield, once completed a record eight marathons in ten days and has chosen the hospice for this year’s marathon after witnessing the help of its support for one of his children’s teachers.

He said: “The hospice is an incredible organisation who gives patients such respect and dignity and I am delighted to be able to run for them this year.

“I may be approaching my 7th decade but I have absolutely no intention of stopping. As long as I can raise vital funds for such worthy causes, I will keep on running.”

Robin Langrishe, Director of Fundraising at the North London Hospice said:  “John is an absolute inspiration and we feel very privileged to have him running for us in this year’s London Marathon.

"We are enormously grateful for the funds he has raised which will help us to provide the specialist palliative care that everyone with life limiting illnesses deserves.”