An Urmston man is set to run his first marathon this month to raise money for a charity that supported him and his family when he was growing up.

Adam Smith will take on all 26.2 miles of the Manchester Marathon on April 16 for Wood Street Mission, a charity that was instrumental throughout his childhood.

Since 1869, the charity has supported low-income families in Manchester and Salford, providing practical help with basic items that are necessary to give children a positive upbringing.

Adam said: “Every few months my mum, sister and I would visit the charity to collect clothes, toys and other essentials. The selfless volunteers were so kind and helpful. They were always there for any needs we had.

“Honestly, at times I do not know how we would have coped without them.”

The 33-year-old is the eldest of seven siblings, born into a single-parent household in Longsight, and says life was often a struggle for his mum both emotionally and financially.

Now a planning director at a city centre media agency, after being one of the first in his family to go to university, Adam says the difficult circumstances of his youth and the help from Wood Street Mission made him who he is today.

He said: “It’s because of support from causes such as Wood Street Mission that meant we could survive.

“I want families who are struggling today to know that, like mine, things can get better.”

Adam is grateful for the opportunities the help from Wood Street Mission afforded him and is now determined to hit his donation goal.

Having already raised £1,265 of his £2,000 target, Adam is already more than 60 per cent of the way there.

He has been tracking his training progress on his donations page throughout this year, even getting the miles in whilst on holiday in New York, as he prepares to run his first marathon.

“I know it won’t be easy but I understand the huge impact every donation makes to the charity,” Adam said.

To find out more about Adam’s story and donate to his fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/woodstreetadam