THE chief executive of a hospice is set to trade in his suit and tie for sweating in a superhero costume.

Mark Jarman-Howe, who has been in charge at St Helena Hospice for four years, has pledged to take part in the charity's own Comic Hero 10k run.

He's even asking for nominations for the superhero costume he should wear for the March 19 event.

And if that wasn't enough, the dad-of-two plans to run the 13-mile Colchester Half Marathon on March 12 and the 26-mile Halstead and Essex Marathon on May 7.

Sponsorship money from all three races will go to St Helena Hospice, which cares for people with life limiting illnesses in north and mid-Essex.

Mr Jarman-Howe, 43, who lives in White Colne, said: "Unfortunately there has been a lot of early interest in me wearing a Wonder Woman costume!

"I am hoping people go for Superman instead."

Mr Jarman-Howe admitted he only started to run last summer in a bid to shed a few pounds and get fitter.

He added: "I was doing no exercise until then.

"Since then I have been building it up and running quite regularly although I have never done any formal running events."

However Mr Jarman-Howe said he is now managing to run about 40 miles a week and the furthest he's run in one go is 18 miles.

He said: "I have taken part in a lot of hospice events since I have been in this job and it is always great fun but I wanted to do something a bit more personal.

"I feel very lucky to have the job I have got and the families I work with are really inspiring.

"I thought I would have a better chance of being successful in fundraising if I made it a decent sized challenge."

Mr Jarman-Howe added his teenage daughters August and Milla are supportive of his plans, if not a little worried about the fancy dress costume he might wear for the Comic Hero run.

With a fundraising target of £1,500, he added: "I am feeling quite positive at the moment. The support I have been given has been brilliant."

Sponsor Mr Jarman-Howe at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mark-Jarman-Howe2017 where you can also say which costume you think he should wear when making your donation.