SEVENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Mike Affleck has proved age is no barrier by running his 15th London Marathon.

The runner from Greenmeadow in Swindon raised over £400 for Parkinson’s UK as he completed the course in 4 hours and 36 minutes on Sunday.

Unlike other competitors Mike was able to bear the sweltering 25-degree heat. He said: “It was a bit of a toughie because I made a mistake by wearing lighter shoes, but I finished quite well when I got my legs going. It wasn’t overly hot – it was quite doable.”

It was the seventh time Mike has run for the charity and on this occasion he was joined by a 220-strong team of runners of all abilities united by the cause.

Mike has a strong understanding of Parkinson’s and its impact on families. His wife Paddy is living with the condition and the wife of his older brother died around 10 years ago having struggled with its effects.

He said: “You gradually decline in what you can do. My wife fell down in public once and that knocked her confidence to go outside. I’ve got to do everything for her now, although I do receive help from helpers.

“We get regular updates from the charity, and Parkinson’s disease nurses are very good – they are partly funded by the charity. The real problem is getting the research done to find out ways of stopping Parkinson’s, as it’s a long, drawn out way of dying. It affects so many people.”

The marathon veteran is a fitness leader for the Swindon Harriers running group. He prepared for the event through circuit-training, rowing, and planking exercises, the latter of which he completed as family members sat on his back. “It’s about keeping your whole body in shape. If you haven’t got a good core you’re going to suffer, and I’ve got a pretty good core, not to blow my own trumpet.”

Parkinson’s UK hopes to raise over £300,000 from the event so it can continue with its vital research work to find better treatments and a cure, as well as improve the lives of the 145,000 people in the UK who live with the condition.