A CRADLEY councillor who used to be obese and suffers painful arthritis in both his knees has set himself an ultra running challenge to raise funds for equipment for disabled children at Homer Hill Park.

Councillor Richard Body will attempt to complete 101 miles along a 1.01 mile loop of the park and along St Peter's cemetery path from Saturday December 7 to Sunday December 8 - all wearing barefoot sandals!

He is raising £1k to fund a memory swing - designed so a parent and young child can enjoy swinging opposite each other giving eye contact, creating treasured memories and a roundabout that a child in a wheelchair can use.

The 53-year-old grandad, who is chairman of the Friends of Homer Hill Park group, transformed his life after he was given the shock news he was officially obese at an NHS health check.

He took up running and shed three stone in three months - and has not looked back since - running 185 half marathons and 40 full and ultra marathons.

The once heavy smoker will battle chronic pain as he has arthritis in both his knees and is waiting for surgery.

Donations can be made to the appeal at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/richard-body-homer-hill-ultra-challenge

Richard said: "I will attempt to run, walk and crawl 100 miles!

"To make the challenge more interesting I will wear my barefoot sandals, weather permitting.

"It's tough enough attempting to cover 100 miles by foot when your many miles from home, but when you are just a short walk away for a nice warm bed, the desire to stop and walk home will be very strong.

"By attempting such a unique endurance challenge, I want to raise money for our park, but also highlight and promote using our parks in Dudley borough.

"Run or walk, Homer Hill park is, as many of Dudley's parks are, a perfect safe place to keep fit - and it costs nothing!"

During the first day of the challenge, the friends will be selling hot snacks and drinks and there will be a BBQ from 10am till 2pm.

There will be free mince pies and cake, soft drinks to anyone who would like to support Richard by running or walking a lap with him.

There will also be a raffle and tombola, with all proceeds going to the park.

Richard is writing a book called Running Hurts which he hopes to complete in February. It explains why he runs even though he suffers from arthritis and chronic pain.

The inspirational grandad said: "It will follow my journey, all the set backs, amusing mistakes, pain management and how I started to run following an NHS health check after turning 50.

"Running at the back of the pack, but never giving up. Recovering from 50 -100 miles of knee pain.

"It will show how I went from being a heavy smoker and obese to starting to speed walk and then run, all with arthritis.

"Then it will chart my progress from mile one to running 185 half marathons, 40 full and ultra marathons with some painful DNF's (Did Not Finish) along the way and finally to running minimal and barefoot!"

Copies of the route will be available on the day, on the parks notice board and on the Cradley and Wollescote together facebook page.