GEOFF Pearce of Ross-on-Wye will join more than 1,000 runners from the 'Mr Men and Little Miss' team at this year's London Marathon as they attempt to run 25,000 miles.

They are taking on the distance of the earth's circumference to mark the 25th anniversary of the charity Children with Cancer UK.

Sales accountant Geoff, 44, has spent months preparing for the race on Sunday April 21, and hopes to raise £3,000.

The charity was inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales in January 1988 after Eddie and Marion O'Gorman lost two children to cancer within nine months of each other.

Over the past 25 years, what started as a small memorial charity as evolved into a major force in paediatric oncology, raising over £150 million pounds for the research and treatment of childhood cancer.

However, despite significant advances in the fight against the most common form of childhood cancer, leukaemia, tragically, this is not true for all forms of childhood cancer and diagnosis for most childhood cancers remains on the increase.

Geoff says he chose to run this year's marathon for Children with Cancer UK after his mother and father died of cancer.

"I have lost numerous friends to the disease. I would love to help children with this run," he said.

The Mr Men and Little Miss team is one of the largest teams in the Virgin London Marathon and the runners are easy to spot in their trademark Mr Happy and Mr Tickle running vests.

Ben Twyman, head of events at Children with Cancer UK, said: "It's a very special year for us and we are thrilled that Geoff has joined our team.

"While we have made great advances over the past 25 years, we are more committed and determined than ever to fund life-saving research and will not stop until all childhood cancer is eradicated."

To help the charity raise essential funds to continue the fight against childhood cancer, visit http://www.childrenwithcancer">www.childrenwithcancer. org.uk to make a donation or find out how to get involved.