A WEE COUNTY man is preparing for his 35th Alloa Half Marathon.

Having entered all the races since they began in 1983, Brian Morton, 53 originally from Tullibody and now Alloa, is certainly not going to be absent from this year's challenge.

He had nearly missed it one year due to a broken collar bone, but as he has done for so long, the enthusiast will be picking blisters up for charity again in 2017, when he takes the course on around the Wee County on March 19.

Brian said: “I've never been the type of runner that won anything, I'm more like a happy runner. I enjoy it, it keeps you fit and that's really it.”

He was first inspired to run for good causes after a close friend's child died to cystic fibrosis and over the years, he and generous people raised more than £100,000, for which he can't thank them enough.

This year, the local man is collecting money for brave double lung transplant patient Lisa Hertwig, also from Alloa, who returned home last month from her life-saving operation after a long battle with cystic fibrosis.

The runner had worked with Lisa's mum at Paton and Baldwins and learned the then very young lass was suffering from the same illness his friend's son died of. He said: “Everybody was concerned that it's going to go the same way.

“She's absolutely done tremendous to be here and to get this gift of life. In fact, she has never known anything else and this is just sort of like a foot up for her.

“Let's help her, let's get her on the road to recovery. She still can't work or anything like that so if we can get as much as we can for her it will help her recuperate. She's still got to go down to Newcastle and get check-ups.”

He said every penny raised will help Lisa be stress-free and not worry about finances.

And Brian is hoping he will not be running on his own this year as he is looking to assemble Team Lisa from up to 35 fellow entrants. Team members will have to pledge to raise £200.

He is also calling on companies from the local area to support the cause with sponsorship or donations.

There is a record number of entries for this year with Brian adding: “I absolutely love it. Well, I love it until I get to Menstrie Brae.”

Alloa Round Table, which is itself organising the event to raise funds for good causes around the county, is providing the team with T-shirts.

Click here to donate.