Bath teenager: I didn't think I'd run two miles, never mind 500

A big-hearted teenager is taking a break after completing a challenge to run 500 miles in 12 months.

George Aylett, a pupil at Ralph Allen School, was inspired to take up the challenge in memory of his grandfather, a cousin and a friend.

Despite never having run long distances before and hating the thought of running, the 16-year-old from Bathampton threw himself into his challenge, and completed his 500th mile on Sunday at Laura Place.

His efforts have raised £602 for the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal in Bristol.

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George said: "I feel fantastic, it was a Herculean task but I managed to come out on top of it because I put my mind to it.

"Before the idea, I would have thought I could not run further than two miles, but I realised when I put my mind to it, anything is possible.

"I am just so pleased with what I have done."

He was prompted by the death of his grandfather George Mastoras, who suffered from diabetes and died in 2008, aged 70, from a heart attack.

He was also inspired by the death of his friend Ryan Hoe, 12, in 2010 after contracting swine flu, and his cousin Alex Snook, 13, who died last year.

George said: "I came up with the idea of wanting to run 500 miles after I wanted to do something in memory of Grandad, Ryan, and Alex.

"Also every day after school, I would go straight home and do nothing, so I thought to myself why don't I do something for the ones that I loved, raise money for charity and give myself something to do."

As part of the challenge George completed his own unofficial half-marathons, running 13-and-a-half miles in one go.

He even ran one of 26 miles, the distance of a full marathon.

As he completed his final mile he was cheered on by friends and family.

The appeal raises funds for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and St Michael's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael's Hospital.

George said: "I picked the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal because Bristol Children's Hospital is where Ryan passed away and the Grand Appeal work with the hospital closely.

"Because the hospital means a lot to me, I wanted to do something for them."