FOREST runner Chris O’Carroll took on a gruelling 100-kilometre race to raise funds for a life-saving machine.

Chris decided to raise money for a portable heart defibrillator which would be available for track and cross-country events around Gloucestershire after a running friend died after finishing a race.

The 72-year-old from Broadwell took part in the Race to the Stones which finishes at the prehistoric stone circle at Avebury in Wiltshire.

Chris, who set world records in the 1980s with the Gloucestershire ultra-distance squad, finished in a time of 20 hours and 47 minutes and was first in his age category.

He said: “After seeing runners die I thought I would raise funds to buy a portable heart defibrillator which would be available for use at any track or cross-country event in Gloucestershire.

“More and more people are taking up running and there has been an increase in sudden heart deaths among younger people in all sports.

“A defibrillator could be the difference between life and death so if we could get one which would be available to organisers of events that would be an enormous step forward.”

Donations can be made online at www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com/chrisgloucesterac.

Cheques can be sent to Gloucester Athletic Track Management, 13 Ardmore Close, Tuffley, Gloucester, GL4 0BJ.