AN ENGINEER aims to raise £2,000 by running the London Marathon in memory of his cousin.

Callum Coombs, of Christleton, will pound the 26.2-mile course with thousands of others on April 26 to raise money for a cancer charity.

The 19-year-old apprentice horticultural engineer at Eaton Estate said: “ My cousin Matthew Jenkins lost his long battle with leukaemia in November 2002, aged nine.

“We were best friends as well as cousins and I experienced first hand something of how children with leukaemia suffer.

“This has inspired me to run the London Marathon in memory of Matthew, and I am hoping to raise as much money as possible for charity.”

CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to fighting Britain’s biggest childhood cancer.

It has been helping children affected by leukaemia for more than 20 years and funds research into causes, treatments, supports families through welfare programmes and campaigns on their behalf.

Callum will join the charity’s Mr Men and Little Miss Team when he takes on the 26.2-mile challenge.

Callum said: “I did a half marathon as preparation and I am averaging about 20 miles a week, increasing the distance of each run the closer it gets to the marathon.

“I am looking forward to the London Marathon and would love to finish in a good time, but the main thing is to raise as much money as possible in memory of Matty.

“I would like to thank all the people that have already sponsored me and anyone wishing to donate money can do so online.”

To sponsor Callum, go to www.bmycharity.com/runformatty.