A 34-year-old man from St Neots is taking part in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon to raise money for the British Lung Foundation (BLF).

Andrew Dorsett, of Howitts Lane, Eynesbury, is running the marathon after losing his mother Valerie Ann Dorsett to pneumonia-related complications in March 2014 at the age of 61.

Mr Dorsett, a sales support administrator for Carl Zeiss Ltd, started running in order to improve his health and to encourage his family to be healthier.

He is married to Georgie and the couple have a four-year-old son, Ethan, who enjoys running with his dad.

Commenting on his decision to run for the BLF, Mr Dorsett said: “I was shocked, frustrated and angered at the fact that there is apparently very little that can be done to treat pneumonia.

“The best that you can hope for is that whomever it is that has it is healthy enough to fight it; my mother was not.”

Aiming to raise a total of £1,750 towards the BLF’s research, Mr Dorsett is hoping his marathon effort will help to increase the awareness of lung disease.

He wants as many people as possible to come out and cheer the runners on to not only add to the atmosphere, but to also support the work of the BLF.

Anyone who would like to support Mr Dorsett in his challenge on Sunday, April 26, can visit his fundraising webpage at www.virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewRunningMadDorsett.