British bus driver Garry Warren is set to run the Istanbul Marathon next weekend to help raise funds for Didim’s Help-in-Hands charitable group.

Garry, who with his wife Rosemary and two daughters have been holidaying in Didim for years, will be taking on his fifth marathon when he tackles the only intercontinental marathon in the world which bridges Europe and Asia on Sunday November 3.

The 55-year-old Stagecoach bus driver, from Margate, Kent, will run the 42km route to fundraise for Helping in Hands’ project to provide assistance to earthquake victims of Hatay where last year over 500,000 people lost their homes and so many are still without safe shelter.

The charity has been actively engaged on helping to fund 28 small homes with insulation bathrooms, kitchens, flooring and ceilings. The site will have 44 of these homes, mainly for single women with disabled children. There will also be a play area and an allotment for each property so they can grow their own food.

Garry told Voices: “I thought I would run a marathon in Istanbul as I’ve been coming to Didim since 2005 and fallen in love with the place and people. I know many Turkish people and thought I could run the Istanbul marathon for them.

“I run three times a week and have ran in Didim when I come for my holidays in August when its in the 40s. So I should be ok with the weather in November.”

Garry has already raised over £11,000 for charities, such as Children with Cancer, Pilgrims Hospice and others having completed four full marathons and five half-marathons.

He added: “I have been running since I was 15 years old and even competed against Seb Coe in a cross- country race at Wimbledon. I’ve run three London marathons and the Paris marathon. Istanbul is the first marathon I’ve ever done which is the 42km and the only marathon in the world to run on two continents.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge and raising money for such a worthy cause.”

A fundraising page has been launched for those wanting to back donate to Garry’s efforts. It is at: https://gofund.me/b8306278.

Garry will be passing some notable sights during the Istanbul Marathon. They include the city’s seven hills, the Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome Square, Topkapi Palace, and the Egyptian Bazaar. The race kicks off from the Asian side of the city, crosses the Bosphorus via the Intercontinental Bridge, July 15 Martyrs Bridge and reaches the historic city.