HE is, by his own admission ‘a big lad'.

But that’s not going to stop Andy Fearon running the London marathon.

Andy has won a ballot place for the coveted marathon, which will take place in April next year.

But at 22 stones, he says he is facing ‘a marathon within a marathon’ in order to lose six stones before the big day.

Andy, 40, of Champany Fields, Dodworth, is doing the marathon to raise money for Dementia UK, following the death of his father John, who had suffered from the illness, several years ago.

And he says backing out is not an option.

He said: “I’m a big lad. I used to be quite sporty as a youngster, but I’ve put on a lot of weight, as people do.

“I’ve got a marathon within a marathon to get fit. But I lost my dad to dementia. I know what it does to the person, and I also know what it does to the family.

“And that’s why I wanted to do this, to raise as much money as possible to help others who are going through what we’ve been through.”

Andy has run in the past, and used to run 10k three to four times a week in his mid-20s. He goes to the gym, and has done for ten years.

“I was massively surprised I got a place in the ballot, first time. I had a ‘what have I done’ moment. But anyone can run, it’s just a case of getting your body to where it needs to be to do 26 miles.

“I’m quite fit apart from my weight. I just eat a lot of the wrong things and drink too much lager. I have changed my diet and stopped eating everything I like.

“I want to lose six stones, I don’t want to be anything above 16 stones. I only found out last Tuesday, so I’m still getting my head around it. But I’m on it. I’ve started training.

“I’ll not be doing any running until after Christmas. I’ll lose three stones before Christmas, then it will be run, run, run.

“It’s something I’m going to do - everyone who knows me knows I’m determined and I’ve got a lot of backing.”

Andy was just 34 when his dad John was diagnosed with dementia. The illness affected John rapidly, and he died 18 months later, aged 86.

Andy said: “Dementia is a cruel illness. At first we thought dad was just old, but he had a turn and went into hospital and that’s when he got diagnosed.

“He had it for about 18 months, but for 12 months he was quite bad. He went in hospital and never came out.

“My mum, Edith, is 23 years younger than my dad, so she was quite young. She was over the moon when she found out I had got a place at London and why I was doing it.”

To sponsor Andy, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-fearon