AN URMSTON rugby player is hoping to single-handedly beat Sale Sharks this season, whilst raising money for Finn’s Fund.

Martin Holohan has set himself the impressive challenge of running 1,804 miles in eight months - the distance the Sale Sharks team will travel to get to their 11 away league games over the season.

He hopes to get to the finish line before the Rugby Union team’s last match on May 5 by running the Greater Manchester Marathon on April 29.

The 30-year-old, a district nurse who plays at Carrington Rugby Club and supports Sale Sharks, hopes his challenge will inspire others to get involved in charity work to raise money to help five-year-old Finn Middleton.

In January, Finn, from Western Road in Flixton, was diagnosed with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, a particularly aggressive and rare form of cancer which affects four children in Trafford.

Finn has undergone intensive treatment but as there is no cure for rhabdomyosarcoma, his parents Jo and Paul are determined to raise £100,000 to pay for a year’s research into the disease.

Family, friends and those moved by Finn’s story have managed to raise more than £20,000, but the Middleton’s are desperate to raise more.

Martin, whose seven-year-old daughter attends St Monica’s Primary School in Flixton with Finn and his older brother Jacob, said it would be a challenge but he was looking forward to it.

“All charities are important but this one is close to home and I’m hoping that the money I raise will make a difference,” he said.

Martin’s Mara-Finn challenge will be begin with the start of the rugby season on September 3 and will include at least two marathons.

To follow Martin’s progress visit marafinn.co.uk and to sponsor him go to justgiving.com/MaraFinn.

For more information about Finn’s Fund visit FinnsFund.co.uk.