Hairdresser Martin Cole was 18 miles into the recent 26-mile New York Marathon when his leg suddenly broke, leaving him in great pain.

The regular charity runner from Kilsby is now back in England in full plastercast - but he is already planning his next run.
In a cruel twist of fate, Martin's wife, Anne, broke her foot just before her husband's injury.

The joint owner of Klickers Hair Salon in Regent Street, Rugby, told the Advertiser: "I set off on the run as normal but realised I was getting into trouble halfway through.

"I texted Anne to say I was in trouble at the 16-mile stage and I was going to walk the rest.

"I hobbled to the 18-mile mark and my leg just went."

Martin then had to be taken off the course in a wheelchair and doctors
discovered he had broken his tibia bone.

Medics said he had been running on a hairline fracture during his training.

He must now stay in full plastercast for a further four weeks and then wear a knee-high cast for six weeks.

Despite his freak injury, he added: "This has not put me off at all.

"I have raised nearly £3,500 from the New York Marathon despite not finishing it. In fact someone has doubled their donation because I had to do most of it in pain.

"Once the cast is off I will have to build up my leg again and then get straight back into training to raise more money for Children With Leukaemia."

He has had to cancel next year's Paris Marathon but has already been accepted for the 2009 New York Marathon.

Martin is still looking for more donations. Log on to www.bmycharity.com/martincole to donate.