A MAN is to take part in the London Marathon in tribute to two relatives who lost their battle with cancer.

Sean Boyle, 37, who works at Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, in Langho, has a permanent spinal injury, and is asthmatic, and aims to raise £2,000 for Help The Hospices.

Both Mr Boyle’s aunt, Sheila Ashcroft, 67, and his aunt-in-law, Suzanne, 46, died of cancer in the last few years, and his uncle Allan, 70, now has prostrate cancer.

Mr Boyle said: “Some days I have found it very hard to motivate my-self, especially when I look out of the window and it is horrible weather.

“My training routine has been difficult because I work nights and, as a result, it has been all over the place.

“Whenever I have felt like not getting out of bed to go for a run, I have thought about the people who have inspired me to do this and it makes me get out there.”

Sean has had a dramatic weight loss since starting training last year, going from 146 kilos to 105 kilos.

“I have not thought about what I’m going to do after the race, but I think I will take a well-deserved rest.

“I’m sure that I will keep in shape, even if I don’t train for marathons after London, because I feel much more confident now, and better as a person.”

While living in Australia, Mr Boyle completed the Melbourne marathon in 1997, but has not done any serious exercise since.

His mother, Linda, 58, who is travelling to London to support him on April 21, said: “There has never been a more dedicated person that wants to help terminally-ill people.

“He has stuck at it. He has stopped drinking, started eating healthily and really made a huge improv-ement to his life.

“He has decided not to run a full marathon distance until the big day because he wants that to be his big achievement. It means a lot to me that he has done this.”

Donations can be given via his Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/sean-anthony-boyle