A man aims to run a marathon in memory of his mother and the treatment she received at a city hospice.

Matthew Mitton, 29, will take on the London Marathon for the first time on April 23 to raise funds for the Bradford Marie Curie Hospice.

Staff at the unit cared for Matthew's mother Christine, a former teacher from Wellington Primary School in Undercliffe, for several weeks before she died from pancreatic cancer in March, 2004.

Now Matthew, a manager at the HSBC in Market Street, Bradford, wants to say thank you.

He said: "The entire staff at the hospice were phenomenal. I felt compelled to do something to help.

"They are all quality, quality people. I wanted to do something for my mum to make her proud and also to raise money for the hospice as they are a charity and rely on public donations."

Matthew, of Broad Street, Bradford, who has completed the Great North Run before but never run a full marathon, has been training throughout the winter by embarking on long runs into Baildon and Guiseley.

"I am very excited by the event in a scared kind of way," he added.

"It is one of those lifetime challenges."

Matthew's best friend from schooldays, Michael Hannon, 29, will also be running in the event to raise funds for the hospice. Michael, a podiatrist, will travel from his home in Dublin for the race.

"We are going to try and start together but I might have to leave him because I want to hit my target and go under four hours," added Matthew.

Brenda Doyle, community fundraising manager at the Bradford Marie Curie Hospice, said: "It is great that two friends have gained places and are using them to raise money for the hospice.

"I am sure that all the training on cold and dark mornings will pay off and they will have a brilliant experience."

To sponsor Matthew and Michael contact (01274) 337036 or visit www.justgiving. com/mattmitton.