Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar will be running the New York Marathon next month.

The Dutchman, who celebrates his 42nd birthday six days before the event, is raising money for Headway, a UK charity that supports people affected by brain injury.

Edwin's wife Annemarie suffered a brain heamorrhage in December 2009, just two days before Christmas, and has recovered well. She'll even join him in New York and compete in the shorter Dash To The Finish Line 5km run.

"The UK still means a great deal to me," Edwin says. "I spent many important years of my career in the country and always received tremendous support wherever I played.

"Like most people, Annemarie and I didn't know a great deal about brain injury until Annemarie fell ill. We now know things could have been much worse and many families are not as lucky as we were."

To sponsor Edwin and Annemarie's New York Marathon runs, visit www.justgiving.com/Edwin-van-der-sar .