BANKER Richard Kell is a man with a mission to make more money…this time for charity. His career has always been involved with money and now he aims to go that extra mile to raise in excess of �1m by the end of 2010 in support of Help for Heroes. Mr Kell

BANKER Richard Kell is a man with a mission to make more money...this time for charity.

His career has always been involved with money and now he aims to go that extra mile to raise in excess of �1m by the end of 2010 in support of Help for Heroes.

Mr Kell, 38, who lives in Letchworth GC with partner Katherine, plans to run seven marathons during the next 12 months covering the length and breadth of the UK and then fly to Ascension Island to compete in the Falkland Islands Marathon.

A former pupil at Hitchin Boys' School, he followed his father into banking working at branches of Barclays in Letchworth GC, Stevenage and Hitchin and is now a senior business development manager for HSBC covering the southern half of the UK.

Most days start by catching the 6.36am train from Letchworth GC to King's Cross but away from the City he trains for what will be a very hectic year ahead.

"Despite all the negativity surrounding banking at present there's plenty of us who are ordinary guys on normal salaries who want to make a positive difference to our country," said Mr Kell, who recently took part in the Standalone 10k race dressed as a city banker a year after taking up jogging to keep fit.

"May aim is to raise in excess of �1m between now and the end of 2010 in support of Help for Heroes and I am looking for donations large and small, though much of my focus will be aimed at the business community.

"I will also be undertaking a series of military themed events to test my Civvy Street credentials, not to mention my fear of heights to the limit.

"I will be abseiling from a military helicopter; completing elements of the commando test, including a 30-mile endurance run and jumping out of a plane. Subject to agreeing the correct permission, I'm also looking to abseil down one of the Canary Wharf skyscrapers.

"Prior to getting energetic, I would be more likely to be found in one of Hitchin's pubs than on a running track, and indeed a sponsored pub crawl may yet become part of my challenge."

For more information and how you can support Mr Kell log on to www.MidasMarathon.com