A keen runner is planning a monster 36-mile run featuring six laps of a circuit including Houghton, St Ives and the Hemingfords – and wants people to join him.

Raoul Monks, of St Ives Road, Houghton, says he intends to complete the ultra marathon on Easter Sunday, April 20, as preparation for an even longer run in memory of his friend Christian Appleby who died two years ago.

“I used to run a lot but about seven or eight years ago I had kids and didn’t run for ages,” said the 35-year-old father of two.

“I picked up my running shoes eight months ago and did an ultra marathon – which is anything over a marathon distance.

“I did the Royal Parks 50k in London, came second in that and got a bit of a bug for it.”

Mr Monks, who owns a sales training company, completed 50k in three hours, 35 minutes and will use the Houghton-Hemingfords-St Ives loop as training for a 100k run in May.

“I put my name down for the London to Brighton 100k,” he continued. “I’ve never been over 31 miles, so it’s all slightly new for me but it’s in a very good cause.”

Mr Monks is raising funds for Crohn’s and Colitis UK after his pal suffered from Crohn’s disease, a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system.

To help boost funds, there will be a raffle, a guess the finishing time competition and more in the village square outside the Three Horseshoes pub.

And Mr Monks said he would welcome anyone to join him for part or all of the run, which will start outside the Three Horseshoes at 11am on April 20.

“I’m hoping as many people come along as possible,” he said.

“I’d love people to join me, be it for the first lap, the last lap, 100m or all six laps, even if it’s on a bike.”

INFORMATION: To support Mr Monks, visit www.justgiving.com/Raoul-Monks-Christian-Appleby.