Adored Big Pink Dress runner sets himself ambitious new challenge

An avid fundraiser who is much-loved in the North East has set his eyes on an impressive World Record.

Colin Burgin-Plews is known for running the Great North Run in extravagant dresses to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The runner has been taking part in the annual event wearing a dress since 2014 and has raised a staggering amount for the charity - he also ran 40 half marathons last year after losing his mother to cancer.

Colin, who never thought the challenge would take off as it has, said: "Money kept coming in and we'd raised thousands of pounds in the first year so we just kept it going.

"Now it's just under £150,000 and it's just been amazing. Loved every second of it."

Now Colin has a new goal set in sight as he pursues a world record.

He explained: "Since we started doing Big Pink Dress, I always thought it would be fun to have a World Record.

"We do have one with a mass participation thing but we wanted an individual thing.

"I have to make and wear all at one time, 151 dresses.

"It's very specific dress shape, longer than the knee and things like that.

"I've worked out the dress will be about 12 inches thick. It isn't easy but I am confident of doing it."

Colin hopes to take on the challenge at Northern Pride later this year which takes place on the weekend of July 22.