FESTIVAL director James Shepard is challenging runners to beat his time in the London Marathon.

The 60 year old is co-director of the Larmer Tree Festival in north Dorset and will be tack-ling the race in aid of the MS Society. And he thrown down the gauntlet by offering a pair of five-day festival tickets and accommodation worth £800 in a draw open to all Dorset runners.

James’s run is the first fundraiser in a new partnership between the festival and its first ever charity partner, the MS Society.

James said: “A really close friend of mine has been living with this devastating condition for over 10 years. “By running the marathon and making the MS Society the festival’s charity partner for 2012, we can raise awareness of the condition and the charity’s great, life-enhancing work.”

Marathon runners interested in challenging James and scooping the prize need to donate a minimum of £10 to his fundraising website.

They will receive an email with a link to the competition. There will be an age handicap of two minutes added to runners’ times for every year younger than James they are. Anyone that beats him will be entered into the prize draw.

The prize is a pair of five-day festival tickets and a stay in a Hotel Bell Tent at the festival – worth more than £800. For local people not running but wanting to enter the fundraising spirit there’s also another pair of festival tickets and a stay in a Hotel Bell Tent up for grabs by entering a Guess James’s Marathon Time competition.

The Larmer Tree Festival team has pledged to raise £5,000 over the next five months for the MS Society, which provides specialist care, practical advice and support to people affected by multiple sclerosis. Gemma Turner, of the MS Society, said: “We are delighted to be supported by Larmer Tree Festival and look forward to working together.”

Visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesShepard