The North West Air Ambulance is appealing to runners from around the North West region to don their trainers and raise much needed funds for the charity which is 100 per cent reliant on donations from the public to keep it airborne.

The charity, which provides a life saving service to all the residents and visitors to the region, has a select number of places in marathons across the globe and a London based 10k which they need the people of the North West to hot foot and apply for.

They have six places for the Berlin Marathon which takes place on 28th September 2008.

The marathon has more than 40,000 runners and takes in the amazing architecture of the city including the finish at the Brandenburg Gate.

There are also three places available in the iconic New York Marathon which takes in five bridges within five of the boroughs on the race day of November 2.

The second of trans-Atlantic marathons they have race spaces in is the Chicago Marathon which takes place on 12th November 2008.

The six people who scoop these places will get to take in 15 neighbourhoods on their 26 mile journey round the city.

Closer to home they have ten spaces in the inaugural BUPA The Ten Thousand' happening on May 26.

Lynda Brislin, chief executive of the charity, added: "It costs us £1.9million to keep the air ambulance staffed and in the air.

"We attend a variety of incidents from car accidents to heart attacks and the speed of the service means that we increase survival chances.

"We would love runners or wannabe runners from the region to get in touch about running for us."

Runners need to raise a minimum of £1,500 each and fund their own accommodation and travel costs.

People who would like to apply for the spaces can click the link below for more information.