THE man who famously discribes his former self as "I would get in the car to go to the loo" is about to run his fourth London marathon.

It took Ray Collett seven heart attacks in two days to change his lifestyle ten years ago.

Now he is fitter than ever, and could beat his four children and nine grandchildren on the running track any time.

"I used to say I could give up smoking every week," he said.

"But now I will continue running marathons until I can't complete one anymore."

Ray was working in America when his heart trouble began and learned that his bosses "couldn't get rid of me quick enough" when he started to recover.

On his return to Britain he found himself "almost unemployable" and ended up buying a restaurant in Radcliffe together with his wife Barbara, a breast cancer patient.

"I had to do something, I can't sit around and watch day time television," said Ray, 62.

But it turned out to be a bad business move, which deteriorated his health.

"Unfortunately we bought it when Radcliffe was rapidly becoming a ghost town.

"I not only lost my healthy but also my restaurant. I went bankrupt.

"I decided it sitting in a hospital bed after a heart attack - we went voluntary bankrupt, we didn't have a penny to our name."

After a triple heart bypass five years ago, "everything improved" and he started work on a new ambition: training for the London marathon.

Almost exactly one year to the date after his bypass, Ray, from Chorley New Road, Horwich, achieved his goal.

Now there's no stopping him and as always Ray aims to "do a little bit bitter" than last time .

This time it's in aid for Horwich Visiting Service ( where he is secretary/treasurer) and Victa, a support group for blind and partially-sighted children.

When Ray is not preparing for marathons, he also finds time to be secretary of Horwich New Heart Club and secretary treasurer for WASP (Westhoughton Age Support Project).

At the moment, he is almost at the end of his 14-weeks training programme for the London Marathon on April 18.

You can help the good causes by sponsoring Ray, tel 667849.

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