TWO brothers-in-law are preparing to pound the streets of New York to raise cash for children’s charities.

Ben Flynn, 26, and Andy Carroll, 40, will run the New York Marathon’s gruelling 26 mile course on Sunday, November 2, in aid of children’s charities Children with Leukaemia and Get Kids Going.

Ben and Andy will join 100,000 runners who will pound the streets of New York’s five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, and cross five bridges before crossing the finish line in Manhattan’s famous Central Park.

The 26-mile challenge won’t be a first for Ben, who ran the London Marathon in 2006.

Ben, an ex-St Monica’s RC High School pupil, who now lives in Crumpsall with his wife Sarah, also 26, said: "After I did the London Marathon, I thought about doing another one.

"I had always wanted to do the New York Marathon and Children with Leukaemia seemed like a good charity to support.

"It’s going to be a bit cold in New York in November so I have to be prepared for that."

Andy, an employee of the Royal Bank of Scotland, who lives with his wife, Nicola, 32, daughter Lucy, five, and son Joseph, one, said: "The charity Get Kids Going is involved in buying sports equipment for disabled children,"

"And for every pound I raise, the RBS will double.

"It has always been on my mind to help a children’s charity so this seemed the perfect opportunity.

"I’ve been training in the parks so I have some miles behind me, but I’m currently running 16 miles max so I’m probably going to get a yellow cab or greyhound bus for the rest of the way."

The New York Marathon which began in 1970, will attract two million spectators and will be seen by 315 million television viewers across the world.

Andy is hoping has a fundraising target of £2,000 and Ben is aiming for at least £1,500.

- To make a secure online donation to Ben for Children with Leukaemia, log onto: www.bmycharity.com/benflynn1.