A CHARITY volunteer has smashed a fundraising target after donning his running shoes.

Josh Rutherford volunteers for Kidderminster-based HELP on a weekly basis.

He decided to run a marathon for the charity and set a target of £500.

But Josh has already reached £900 with his fundraising after completing the 26.2 miles at Coombe Abbey Country Park near Coventry earlier this month.

He was able to do the distance despite only having two months of training.

Josh said on his GoFundMe page: “I’ve been volunteering at HELP for a year now.

“It is a local non-profit charity within Kidderminster supporting the homeless and anyone in need.

“It’s run entirely by volunteers so 100 per cent of all donations will go directly to the charity.

“This will make a huge difference to the charity and the people it supports.

“The money will go to the running of our night kitchen for those in need, supporting families and people at risk of homelessness, assisting rough sleepers on the street and by feeding people on the street with our mobile support vehicle.

“This is such a worthwhile cause for a small charity doing a wonderful job helping the local community. Your donations will make a difference.”

HELP, based at The Tulip Tree Centre in Castle Road, was founded by Dave Griffin who has been helping the homeless since 2016.

Churches Together decided to open a soup kitchen at the Salvation Army and invited Dave to get involved.

He turned it into a night kitchen where hot meals, drinks, food parcels, hot showers and haircuts were incorporated.

To support Josh’s fundraising, visit www.gofundme.com/f/86nut-marathon-for-the-homeless?

For more on the charity, go to communityhelpcentre.org.uk.