AN ALL-round sportsman is preparing to take to the streets of New York to raise thousands of pounds for kidney research.But James Young, 23, admits there are two challenges to be faced.

AN ALL-round sportsman is preparing to take to the streets of New York to raise thousands of pounds for kidney research.

But James Young, 23, admits there are two challenges to be faced. He has to do the training for his first marathon and he has to raise at least £2,000 – and that financial target is proving harder than he realised.

He was a champion cross-country runner in the county when he was 12 and he was runner-up at 17. Mr Young has competed at athletics with Ipswich Harriers and he plays golf at Woodbridge Golf Club. He rowed at Nottingham University where he studied economics.

Mr Young, of Letheringham, near Woodbridge, is running along routes on country roads near his home in training for the race with 30,000 other runners on November 3.

But he is disappointed that his plea for sponsorship has not reaped the rewards he hoped. Mr Young did work experience in the kidney department at Ipswich Hospital when he was at Thomas Mills School, Framlingham,

''I decided to raise money in aid of Kidney Research because I saw for myself life in the department and they have a problem in that they have to compete against more high profile things like cancer.

''I am surprised how difficult it has been to raise money as a lot of people have not replied to me. A lot of my friends are students and they have difficulty in raising money,'' said Mr Young.

Anyone wishing to help is asked to contact him on 01473 737212.