A CARLETON athlete is busy preparing for this year's London Triathlon when he will raise money for the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

Stewart Newberry, 40, of Brook View, a process manager for Energis, in Leeds, is currently training for eight hours a week.

The triathlon consists of a 1.5 kilometre swim in the Thames wearing a wet suit, followed by a 40 kilometre cycle race and a 10 kilometre run.

The event will take place on August 11 and Mr Newberry has been training for it for nearly two years.

He has entered around five triathlons in the past, but this will be the first involving open water.

"I've not tried swimming in a wet suit before, but hope to be able to put in some practice beforehand," he said.

He is a veteran of several marathons too although has tried on five occasions to enter the London Marathon, but his application has been rejected each time.

His efforts to raise the profile of the Anthony Nolan Trust is particularly relevant to Mr Newberry because his sister-in-law Emma Kaminski is a leukaemia sufferer and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant.

He has given blood since the age of 18 and for the past few years has donated plasma.

Because there are three disciplines involved in the event, Mr Newberry is hoping three local companies will come forward to sponsor him and raise vital funds for the charity.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact him on 01756 791572.