CHARLIE and Paula Pearson from Leigh Road, Hale and Charlie’s former workmate, Phil Knowles, from Denton, are combining their physical skills to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation.

Charlie and Phil will leave Altrincham Town Hall at 8.30am on September 18, before cycling to Berlin.

Paula and their daughter, Lizzie, will greet them when they arrive on Charlie’s 60th birthday, September 26 and, two days later, Paula and Charlie will enter the Berlin marathon.

They are lucky that Lizzie can go because, in 1995, when she was 11, she, her dad and their dog, Boots, were involved in a terrible car accident in Wales.

Lizzie almost died from a brain clot and was transferred to Walton Neuro Centre in Liverpool whilst Charlie, who had suffered a fractured skull, lay in Bangor Hospital.

After two months in a coma, Lisa went through successful rehabilitation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Charlie’s photographic memory never returned.

Boots escaped but was recovered unharmed.

In 200l, they saw a national newspaper article asking people to write a 100 words saying why they would support the Brain and Spine Foundation by running in the London marathon.

Paula said: “Charlie was invited to join the charity’s team and ran the London marathon that year.”

The couple have run many marathons since. In 2009 Charlie ran from Altrincham to London before joining the London marathon.