A BRIERLEY Hill ambulance service worker whose mother who was killed in a hit and run accident has embarked on a marathon round of triathlons and runs to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Matt Brown and his family will always grieve the loss of his 53-year-old mother Elaine, who was mowed down on Birmingham’s Coventry Road in 2005.

Mrs Brown, from Halesowen, had only popped out from work to buy some milk when she was knocked down by a motorist who had already been banned from driving for other offences.

He was caught and sentenced to five years in jail, but only served three years and now 30-year-old Mr Brown, hopes to raise £1,500 for Brake, the road safety charity which works to raise awareness to stop death on the roads.

Speaking of the tragedy he said: “As well as changing my familiy’s life by taking someone from us who meant so much, it also highlighted the fact of how much this goes on and how badly this kind of incident affects the families and friends involved.

“In the same month my mom was killed, a two-year-old girl was killed in Birmingham, again in a hit and run incident and again by a driver with no licence.”

Having previously spent most of his spare time playing on his X-box, the West Midlands Ambulance Service employee, based at the Waterfront headquarters, caught the athletic bug last year when his dad entered him in the Wombourne Triathlon.

He joined the Halesowen Triathlon Club and is planning to complete 15 triathlons and runs of varying distances by October.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Brown, who lives in Netherton, can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/matt-brown0