FORMER tour golf professional Allan Shutt is bracing himself for one of the toughest marathon runs in the world.

After quitting the gruelling tour following an injury, he is now coaching local amateur golfers, but his big passion is to raise money for the children of Chernobyl.

He ran his first marathon last year when he joined thousands on the London Marathon. "As we finished there were people all around me in real trouble, but I felt so good I thought I could set off and do it all again," he said.

Allan hatched the plot to run two marathons on consecutive days to raise money for the charity 'Children of Chernobyl'.

But after completing one run this year his plan to race in the Boston event was thwarted by a bomb in London. The chaos stopped him reaching Heathrow Airport in time for this flight.

Now his planning to complete the 'double' by running the Dubai Marathon on January 14.

"Temperatures will be reaching 35 centigrade at 8am and will be 90-100 fahrenheit throughout the race. One of the last Brits to try is was in hospital for three weeks after the race."

Allan has developed a special training programme to prepare for the conditions, and carries out training runs in a sauna.

"I know it is going to be tough, but I plan to be ready," he said.

Allan is now within £500 of his £4,000 target, and anyone wanting to sponsor him can make contact on 0797-0032862.

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