MARATHON runner Andy McMenemy who set off on the 14th of 66 consecutive marathons from Verulamium Park, St Albans, on Tuesday, was not short of support in his endeavours.

Plenty of schoolchildren cheered him on as he set off from the park and deputy mayor Cllr Beric Read was there to see him off as well.

For two laps of the park, he was joined by three children from the Abbey School in Grove Road who were taken along by office manager Phillipa Andrews.

The youngsters from Year 5 are all keen cross-country runners who wanted to support his challenge – and to make Andy’s run easier they took a packet of fig rolls for him, the biscuits he eats to give himself energy while running.

Andy, the son of a former soldier, has taken up Challenge66 to raise money for The Soldiers’ Charity – formerly the Army Benevolent Fund – and to try to get into the Guinness Book of Records.

He is running 66 marathons in 66 days and left Verulamium Park on Tuesday morning on his way to the City of London.

Money raised in St Albans will be split between The Soldiers’ Charity and The Captain James Philippson Trust Fund, set up following the death of the Bricket Wood soldier in Afghanistan in June 2006.