THE Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice's mascot is bidding to break a world record in the London Marathon this weekend.

Harvey the Hospice Heart will attempt to be the fastest charity mascot to run the race and is aiming to beat the current record time of four hours and 16 minutes.

Hospice supporter and Glasgow physiotherapist Frank Gilroy, the man inside the suit, hopes to boost the group's £15million Brick by Brick Appeal, backed by the Evening Times, through his record run.

Frank is part of Team Cy-Run, who have previously supported the hospice by cycling to London and running the marathon the next day in 2012.

The following year they hopped on their bikes and cycled to Edinburgh before completing the Edinburgh Marathon.

This year's team is made up of Chris Hanlon, Stuart Macdonald, Vivienne McCaig and Yvonne Hamilton, who will all be joining Frank in the marathon attempt.

Frank said: "Running as Harvey is going to be great fun but a really hard gig.

"I've taken advice from the top sports scientist in Scotland and I will rely on the support of the team to keep fuelled and hydrated."

He added: "Harvey isn't the most aerodynamic mascot. Being shaped like a heart has its downfalls for a runner.

"He is also really heavy and a bit cumbersome."

Cy-Run have raised more than £66,000 for the hospice to date and aim to raise another £70,000 to help pay for an occupational therapy room and physiotherapy room in the new build hospice planned for Bellahouston Park.

Frank said: "We are all behind the Brick by Brick Appeal. The thought of patients being able to be treated in these rooms and then have the space to be in the gardens of the beautiful park keep us running."

In 2012 the hospice launched the Brick by Brick Appeal to build a new facility in Glasgow.

In addition to enhancing existing services for adults, it will also, for the first time, offer a specialist palliative care service for young people aged 15 and above.

The move from the hospice's existing Carlton Place site, by the River Clyde, will provide a much-needed purpose-built hospice for the people of Glasgow living with life-limiting illnesses, as well as those requiring end-of-life care.

The new building will also offer patients single private en-suite rooms with access to social space and landscaped gardens for everyone to enjoy.

Hospice chief executive Rhona Baillie said: "This development will be a major step forward in the provision of palliative care in Glasgow."

Planning for the new hospice, to be located on a site next to Bellahouston Park, has been approved by Glasgow City Council and more information can be found online at www.ppwh.org.uk/brickbybrick.

angela.mcmanus@eveningtimes.co.uk