WHAT an undertaking the next few weeks will be for funeral director James Keen.

James has put himself up for the 26-mile challenge of the London Marathon AND he has also giving up smoking.

So to help him stub out his habit and complete the race, James and his dog Nemo, spend all their spare time training, hoping that he will be up to scratch come April.

The 35-year-old, who works at AH Freemantle funeral directors in Titchfield, has discovered that he is not as young and as fit as he used to be.

However, that hasn't deterred him and James is determined to cross that finishing line, with the hope of raising £2,000 for Children with Leukaemia.

James, of Southampton Hill, said: "Working as a funeral director brought home to me how many people die from the disease. I have always wanted to run the marathon and now that I have the time to train, I thought I would just go for it.

"My wife Kate has been supportive and patient because most of the time I am out training with my dog Nemo."

To sponsor James visit www. bmycharity.com/keendoeslondon.

Echo picture by Joanna Mann.

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