A CHARITY champion is getting ready to take on his latest challenges for good causes – and this time he’s taking a mascot along for the ride. 

Lochwinnoch man John Delaney is set to complete a gruelling North American marathon series, starting with the Chicago Marathon in October, to raise cash for charity. 

He will then head to Toronto, in Canada, the following week before taking to the streets of New York for the final leg of the whistle-stop tour. 

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And he will be “carried” along by his mascot “Wee Andy”, who has been spurring him on in challenges since last year’s London Marathon. 

The 62-year-old is crossing the Atlantic as part of his efforts to raise much-needed funds for Howwood charity St Vincent’s Hospice. 

Mr Delaney’s father-in-law Tom Reid was admitted to the hospice in 1998 and since then a number of friends have also received end-of life-care there. 

Mr Delaney told The Gazette: “The hospice is so important to the people of the area. They take such special care of people.

“So many good friends have had to use it – far too many in recent times.” 

Mr Delaney has been raising cash for good causes for two decades and is also raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and It’s Good 2 Give. 

It’s all been inspired by his son, Andrew, who lost his life to the illness in 2003 aged 15. As part of his bid to raise £3,000 for the hospice, Mr Delaney took part in the Big Hospice Hike with Tom’s son John, 52, and his grandson Tom, 17.

Mr Delaney, who has raised more than £500,000 for charity and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for his charity work, will be joined stateside by his wife Rosemarie as he takes on the daunting challenge. 

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He added: “It wasn’t until I signed up for the three marathons that I realised what I had put myself in for. Through sheer naivety, I’ve ended up entering three marathons for three charities.”

Visit John's JustGiving page to give your support. 

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