A BIG-HEARTED donor could be set to hang up his running shoes after completing a marathon with the girl he helped save.

Elliott Brock, 43, from Mersea, changed a little girl’s life when, at 29-years-old, he decided to donate his bone marrow to the Anthony Nolan Charity.

The unknown recipient of this donation was then eight-year-old Vicky Lawrence.

Little did the now father-of-three know that his donation 14-years-ago would end up saving Vicky who was battling an aggressive form of cancer.

Now Vicky, 22, is using her second chance at life to save others by studying to be a doctor at Newcastle University.

Since his donation, Vicky and Elliott have become good friends and even ran the London marathon in aid of Anthony Nolan last year.

Now Elliott, who works as a physiotherapist in Halstead and Braintree, donned the ‘marrow-man’ superhero costume once again to run the Great North Run in Newcastle.

The half marathon was 13.1 miles long with the dynamic duo clocking in a two-hour and 15-minute time.

So far, Elliott has raised £600 for the charity.

Although this run was less “gut-busting”, Elliott says this could be the last time he takes on a marathon, although he admits the London Marathon in October is tempting.

He added: “We had already run the full London Marathon so taking on the half marathon wasn’t too bad.

“The main injury I came away with was actually sunburn.

“Overall, there were around 60,000 runners and about 240 from Anthony Nolan with similar stories to us.

“I might be wrong, but I’m pretty sure we are the first donor-recipient pair to do the Great North Run.

“We had great crowds all the way and there was great camaraderie between the runners, the crowds really pull you through it.

“Vicky is a fourth-year medical student and it is the cherry on a beautiful cake to be able to follow her story and see her achieve so much in life, to go on to save people, it is the give which keeps giving.

“We hope people will join the register, you just have to take a cheek swab. It is a lot less traumatizing than taking a lateral flow test.”

To donate, visit greatnorthrun.enthuse.com/pf/elliott-brock-f09a