A DUNFERMLINE man who competed in his first major run last year is set to complete 12 half marathons in 2015 for charity.

Steven Mackie (23), of Elliothill Street, has teamed up with pals Andrew Doriano (23) and Stuart Gibson (24) to run 13 miles every month for Cancer Research UK after a former work colleague at the Morgan Law Partnership was diagnosed.

The trio ran the Edinburgh half marathon and liquid refreshment helped them come up with the idea of clocking up even more miles, with £235 out of a £1000 target already collected.

Steven, a chartered surveyor, joked, “At the end of the year we decided we should get the fund-raising started and I had an idea of doing 12 half marathons.

“It was over a few drinks so I wasn’t sure it would happen, but when a just giving page was set up I realised it was serious, and then people started to donate so we thought we’ll have to do it!

“On 31st January we ran the coastal path from Kirkcaldy to Burntisland which was brutal, but what we’re going to do is pick a city or a place each month and go there.

“We’re doing the Edinburgh half marathon again and will be doing some scheduled events but doing too many would eat into the money that we raise.

“Our friends and family think we’re mad but running 13 miles in a couple of hours once a month isn’t too bad, although I think I underestimated the training for the first one!

“We decided on Cancer Research UK because everyone is affected by it in one way or another.

“I lost my grandad to cancer and my former work colleague, who was the catalyst in me going for the chartered surveyor job and one of the nicest people you could meet, showed anyone can get hit.

“We just wanted to show our support.” l You can make a donation by visiting ht tps://www.justgiving.com/Steven-Mackie2/.