A TAVISTOCK College staff member is gearing up to swap the classroom for the streets of London as he has been accepted to run the Virgin London Marathon, raising money for a local bowel cancer charity.

On April 28, Stuart Hearne, a technician at Tavistock College, will be running the marathon in aid of Bowel Cancer West, a charity close to his heart as his wife Kim has battled with the cancer.

Stuart said: ‘In 2017 Kim was diagnosed with bowel cancer and our lives hanged. She endured two major surgical operations, intensive radiotherapy and many months of recovery. Where the outcome has, so far, resulted in her being cancer free, the price paid has been the removal of her whole lower bowel and living the rest of her life with a permanent stoma. Coping with this change is mentally and physically demanding and an ongoing challenge.’

Bowel Cancer West is a Plymouth-based charity founded by Mark Coleman, a leading surgeon at Derriford Hospital.

Stuart has a fundraising target of £3,000 which he hopes to achieve before the marathon.

‘Bowel Cancer West works tirelessly to improve the survival rates of people diagnosed with the UK’s second biggest cancer killer,’ he said. ‘They do this by raising awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer, funding research and providing training for doctors and nurses to ensure they provide patients with the best possible care and treatment.

‘Please help me achieve my fundraising target and help future patients by donating and sharing my fundraising page far and wide.

‘Although it will be my first London Marathon, it will be the second time I will be running in an event with Mo Farah but, like the first time, I will let him run on ahead!’

To donate to Stuart’s cause, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/StuartHearne where you can also find out more about Bowel Cancer West and follow his training and fundraising progress.