The chief executive of a Kent hospital trust is preparing to take on a marathon fundraiser as a thank-you to staff for going "beyond the call of duty" during the coronavirus pandemic.

Miles Scott from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) is training to run a gruelling 26-mile route on Wednesday, July 15, stopping at the organisation's sites along the way.

Starting at Crowborough Birthing Centre, Mr Scott will head for Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury and then on to a site in Paddock Wood.

The final section of the run will take him to the finish line at Maidstone Hospital, where he hopes to be joined for a lap of honour by fellow trust board members.

The money raised will support MTW's Charitable Fund which recently launched its ‘Go The Distance’ campaign backed by double Olympic Gold Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes earlier this month.

It's aim is to support staff working hard through the pandemic and Mr Scott, from Paddock Wood, hopes to reach £10,000.

He said: “Over the last four months, our staff here have responded so effectively to the pandemic and gone above and beyond the call of duty, so it’s fantastic to be able to say thank you to them myself by taking on this challenge to support our NHS heroes we have here at MTW.

Watch as Miles Scott explains more.

“We’ve had some amazing support from the public during the Covid-19 pandemic so I’m hoping that once again they will get behind me and give that much needed extra motivation as I’m making my way through the miles on July 15.

“Every penny raised will directly benefit our staff by providing a permanent legacy and facilities for staff who have done so much to look after local people during the recent pandemic, so I urge everyone to get involved, get the friends and family involved and take advantage of the warmer weather by setting themselves a bit of a challenge whilst also raising funds for their local hospitals.”

Donate towards Mr Scott's challenge on the Go The Distance Just Giving page here.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells