A PERSONAL trainer who formed a friendship with a man more than 200 miles away after reading about him in an article online is getting ready to pull on his running shoes for a tough challenge.

Nick Hannah offered to help Sean Crawford after reading about his weight struggles and the problems it posed.

Together, they planned to complete the Haddington Parkrun and raise funds for Dadswork, where Sean was a trustee, and Action Cerebral Palsy.

Sadly, Sean passed away at his home in Athelstaneford at the end of June.

READ MORE: Tributes after sudden death of Haddington dad, aged 37

Nick described 37-year-old Sean, who had a young daughter, Layla, as “a lovely guy”.

He said: “The sad thing is he went through some good spells and he was having a good spell as far as motivation.

“Then, he had a few complications with hospital and was struggling.”

Nick had reached out to Sean after reading an article about him in March last year.

Together, they had regular online discussions about what could be done to help him.

Sean even spent three days with Nick at his home near Huddersfield in Yorkshire.

Nick said: “I didn’t charge Sean and he was like a project for me.

“We got chatting and he was a lovely guy.

“At various points, he would do well for a while and then life takes over and he was not doing so well.

“Obviously, some personal trainers do a lot of online coaching but I went to see him a few months later in Scotland, like a return visit, and I tried to help him a bit more by going through the freezer, cupboards and places in his area.

“He managed to lose a stone over a number of weeks.”

Since Sean’s death, Nick has decided to continue with the fundraising baton.

On November 2, he will complete the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea parkrun in Northumberland and continue running.

Over the next seven days, he will head north, clocking up 100 miles, with the finish line at the Meadowmill parkrun.

As well as being the nearest parkrun, fittingly, it is also where Sean played football as a youngster.

Nick, who turned 50 earlier this month, was hoping to spend time with some of Sean’s family and friends while he was north of the Border.

He said: “I’m not looking forward to the weather but the physical challenge, I do triathlon and running, it is going to be an adventure.

“One of my personal trainer clients is helping with logistics, planning the route, and somebody mentioned the coastal paths, which sound fabulous.

“We are going there and trying to do this with zero accommodation costs and people are helping with that.

“Already, we have got three nights' accommodation from people who know people.

“I am really looking forward to it but the mileage is going to be a challenge because I have got arthritis in my knee.”

Donate at justgiving.com/page/nick-hannah-1727536990914 or gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-sean-crawford