BATH runner George Harding has raised nearly £5,000 for a cancer charity through a sponsored Canadian trek.

Mr Harding has collected £4,469 for the Macmillan Cancer Relief ten-day 'Tough Country' trek, which started on September 2.

One of a 65-strong team of trekkers, Mr Harding trekked up to eight hours a day in arduous conditions through the Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia.

He said: "It was a wonderful experience because we all had the common theme of raising money for Macmillan."

"The journey was not without difficulties, I was sleeping rough in a basic tent and the mountains get very cold at night."

Among the difficulties Mr Harding faced was cooking without electricity and missing his family at home in Bath.

He said: "We lived on chilli con carne, and when it was served it was covered with ash from the fire we cooked on."

"I wondered about my family how they were getting on, and I phoned my wife once during the trek, from Whistler. It was very expensive."

An experienced marathon runner, Mr Harding undertook the trek for a challenge because he has previously completed the London and New York marathons twice.

He has competed in the Bath half marathon six times and undertook the Canadian trek as a new way of raising money.

Mr Harding said: "I had achieved all I had set out to achieve through marathon running, and when Macmillan asked me to run in New York I said I wanted to divert to this trek."

"It was a challenge a change of direction."

The weather, which passed through several changes a day, according to Mr Harding, added to the challenge with torrential rain, high winds, hailstones and frosts.

But Mr Harding decided he would add another adventure to his journey, by climbing a mountain which he described as twice the height of Ben Nevis.

He said: "The really difficult part was climbing the Altrato mountain. It took 11 hours of continuous trekking to get to the top."

"It was very exciting when I reached the summit, there were amazing views."

Mr Harding's family have expressed concern about his adventurous nature. He said: "They keep saying 'Isn't it time you stopped now?' but I'm not in this to hurt myself."

"I want to raise money for Macmillan, they are fantastic and do wonderful work, the nurses are angels in uniform."

The money raised is part of £250,000 raised nationwide for Macmillan and will benefit the Bristol Cancer Appeal.

Mr Harding has supported the charity since the death of three members of his family from cancer.

He said: "The achievement really is in having completed the trek and knowing the money will go forward for all people suffering from cancer."

"I lost a sister when she was 32, my niece died at 30 and my brother died a few years ago. My heart is with Macmillan because they do wonderful work."

Mr Harding wishes to thank everyone who sponsored him.

He said: "In the face of all the other worthy charities in Bath, that money took some raising."