While the ‘diamond geezer’ looks forward to a well earned break after his eighth completed marathon, the money raised will go towards funding innovative food cards, topped up with 250 shekels( £36) a month, that needy Israelis can use at supermarkets across Israel. As Lewis explains, “The money raised will feed more than 200 Holocaust survivors for a month. I love the idea of an electronic food card, because instead of queuing up for charity food parcels, it allows people to preserve their self-respect and to choose their food and essentials by themselves.”

Running with an injury (the IT band on Lewis’ left knee flared up six weeks ago), he finished only nine minutes slower than his last marathon, although he found himself being overtaken by “an Abba double act in handcuffs and a six foot parrot”.

The total raised so far is £7,368 and Lewis is grateful to everyone who has supported him. Displaying his hard-won medal, Lewis says the low point was mile 15 at Queensboro Bridge, “a mile of steep bridge”. And the high point? “Finishing!”

It’s not too late to show your support for Lewis’ sporting efforts, visit his Just Giving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/lewismalka/