Manager of Newark business Oxygen Clothing runs Bath Half-Marathon in support of veterans charity BuildForce

The manager of a popular town centre fashion shop has completed a half-marathon in support of a veterans charity.

Darren Burke, manager of Oxygen Clothing on Middlegate, Newark, took part in the Bath Half-marathon over the weekend but was never originally meant to be there.

Darren offered to run in place of a friend, Scott Graham, who withdrew following a diagnosed heart condition and undergoing open heart surgery.

Money raised from the race will go towards BuildForce, a charity offering services focused on pre-employment, employment, education and mental health for veterans and military leavers.

Scott signed up before his diagnosis and as a veteran himself had chosen to run for the charity after it had helped a friend of his.

The race was originally meant to take place in May but was postponed and rescheduled for this October.

Darren completed the half- marathon in two hours 11 minutes and is no stranger to long distance runs as he and Scott had previously taken park in the Great North Run.

“I’m really happy with the time, but my main goal was just to keep on running,” he said: “It was quite hilly at points which made it difficult but the atmosphere and the team was really good. I had my family cheering me on and the people were amazing.”

Together the BuildForce team managed to raise over £4,000, which will be put to good use supporting service leavers and veterans to transition into full time careers in the construction industry.

“The fundraising page is still open at www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/buildforce