Determined council worker Mike Gosling will run the London Marathon in memory of his father - despite having suffered two collapsed lungs.
Man on a marathon mission - Mike Gosling
Mr Gosling, who works for Braintree Council, is limbering up for the marathon challenge on Sunday to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
The 44-year-old, of Church Street, Braintree, chose the charity because his father died from liver cancer last year.
He said it would be an emotional day.
"This is my first marathon and I am determined to finish in my father's name," he said.
"He was a wonderful man whose life was cut short by this cruel disease at the age of 73."
Mr Gosling will be covering the 26.2 mile course despite having suffered two collapsed lungs in the last ten years.
Remarkably, Mr Gosling said it happened for no reason but it tends to affect young or middle aged men of slim build.
He said: "Now I have recovered there are no after-effects at all. Maybe there is a likelihood it can happen again. Now I have recovered and rested and it's back to normal size. It doesn't affect your exercise or your running."
Some £600 has been pledged to the charity so far.
Published Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article