Huntingdon man, Pete Digby is planning to run from London to Brighton with a giant 25lb monkey on his back, all to raise funds for Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Huntingdon man, Pete Digby is planning to run from London to Brighton with a giant 25lb monkey on his back, all to raise funds for Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Pete, 46, a City of London police officer, is no stranger to running with heavy items on his back.

He has completed the London Marathon for charity on several occasions carrying heavy items such as a fridge, washing machine and mini oven.

He has also pulled a 560lb oven 150 miles from the Arboretum in Staffordshire to London in 2013 to support military charities, including the Afghanistan Trust.

Pete said: “It’s what’s in the head not the tank that gets you through a challenge like this. The giant monkey teddy bear is very bulky so if it’s windy or rains it will make it even tougher.

“I hope by running with a monkey on my back it will help raise awareness, and hopefully funds, for Starlight. If by doing this, I can trigger someone to support Starlight then it will be worth it.

“I wanted to run for Starlight after my neighbour’s son, who is battling a debilitating disease, was granted a Starlight Wish to go to Disneyland. I saw the difference that the wish made not only to him, but to the whole family. It gave them hope and I saw a real change in them all.”

The Starlight Children’s Foundation grants wishes for seriously ill children and provides a year-round children’s hospital entertainment programme.

Pete will be running with Theo Summers, 29, who will motivate, encourage and support him along the way. Pete, Theo and the monkey have kindly been given free places by the race organisers Action Challenge.

The London to Brighton Challenge starts on May 27. To sponsor Pete, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pete-digby-starlight.