A HAMPSHIRE dad has decided to mark the milestone of turning 40 by hitting the road for charity - on the other side of the Atlantic.

When Hamble's Ian Whitcher takes part in his first marathon run formore than 15 years this Sunday, it will be thousands of miles away on the streets of Chicago.

The middle-aged, Royal Mail postal worker, who ran regularly while in his twenties, decided to enter the gruelling road challenge after hitting the big 40 in August this year.

Chicago's race may be a far cry from the New Forest marathon he entered way back in 1984, but the reinvigorated, amateur runner believes there is nowhere better to make a fresh start.

Ian, of Coach Road, said: "When I reached 40 it was a milestone in life. When I was 24 I could run fairly well, and now I suppose I thought "Have I still got it at 40?".

"Everybody usually thinks of London, but Chicago is a major race where the world record was broken.

"I don't think I'll be breaking any records. If I did I would need a car to take me away because I would be so out of breath."

But the budding athlete is hoping to run up oodles of cash during the 26 mile, 385 yard course for two well-deserving charities.

And Ian has financed the whole trip to America himself to make sure he raises as much money as possible for his running club's prostate cancer appeal and his seven-year-old son's Hamble primary school.

Ian, who runs with the Lordshill Roadrunners, said: "I am a firm believer that if you do something for charity you pay for yourself first, and anything from the public goes to charity.

"Often money raised for charity goes into a big money pot but I wanted to see something happen locally."

Ian, who has been sponsored by many of his Royal Mail colleagues, is flying out to the States today, and hopes to complete the marathon in under three hours.

He is still keen to find sponsors, and he can be contacted either through Hamble Primary School, or on 023 8045 6309.