Sunderland bin man to run marathon distance between Stadium of Light and St Jame's Park - with a wheelie bin on his back!

Deano Franciosy, 51, from Pennywell will run a 26.2-mile route there and back to raise money for the children’s services at St. Oswald’s Hospice.

It has been a dream of Deano’s to take part in the London Marathon and he had set his heart on it as part of a year of challenges after turning 50.

The Sunderland City Council worker was devastated when the London Marathon was cancelled in April due to Covid-19, and again when the re-scheduled event, which was due to take place on Sunday, October 4, was cancelled too.

Instead he has signed up to do a virtual marathon on the same date for the hospice.

Sunderland fan Deano has raised thousands of pounds for over 200 charities since he began fundraising in 1992.

His mother Edna Garner died in 2001, inspiring him to raise almost £20,000 for the ICCU unit at the Sunderland Royal Hospice, where she was looked after during her last days.

Every year he completes runs in memory of both his mam and his brother Kevin who passed away five years ago.

Deano said: “I have been looking forward to taking up this challenge and I did get upset when I heard it had been cancelled for the second time.

“I still wanted to do something as I’ve been training really hard; so being able to do this virtually and raise money for a local charity is great.

“I keep myself fit covering 19 miles every day doing the bins. I do my own 51-minute back yard boot camp, six nights a week and every Saturday I run 10 miles with my wheelie bin on my back.”

Deano will be at the Stadium of Light by the statue of Bob Stokoe from 9.30am on Sunday, October 4. He will then run to the Bobby Robson statue in Newcastle, before turning back.

You can make a donation to support Deano and St Oswald’s Hospice by texting ‘DEANO’ to 70085 or by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Deano-Franciosy51

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