A gruelling charity challenge of running nine races in a year has begun for a Thorpe St Andrew fundraiser.

Phil Norman kicked off his challenge by running the Bupa Great Manchester Run in 47 minutes and 21 seconds on Sunday.

He even bumped into former glamour model and renowned charity fundraiser Nell McAndrew at the finish line

It is just the beginning for Phil though, as he tries to raise �1,500 for deaf-blind charity Sense.

The 36-year-old has already broken the �400 barrier and doesn't have much time to recover from the Manchester 10k, as he is heading to central London on Sunday to take part in the Bupa 10,000.

Phil, who is health, safety and environmental manager for Clarets Civil Engineering, based in Hoxne, near Diss, said: 'In 2009 I started doing a bit of running and a lot of local runs then moved on to the Great North Run and then the Virgin London Marathon in 2010.

'Somehow I got in touch with Sense and as soon as I started talking about them to people and got more information, I found out more about the great work that they do.'

He will then take on the Asics British London 10k in July, the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run and the Bupa Great North Run in September and the Bupa Great Birmingham Run and Bupa Great South Run in October.

He will then complete his challenge with the Adidas Silverston Half Marathon and the Virgin London Marathon next April.

It is sure to be huge effort, but Phil is confident he will complete his challenge. He continued: 'I'll complete it, that's not in doubt, one way or another, I'll finish it.

'I've already got �400 raised and it's great to have that behind you because you know you are going to be letting a lot of people down if you don't finish, so one way or another you get to the finish line.'

To support Phil's cause, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PhilNormanLondonMarathon2010

Are you taking on a charity challenge? Contact Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk