AS MANAGING director of Eli Lilly UK, Andrew Hotchkiss does not have much spare time on his hands.

But in the build-up to Sunday's Flora London Marathon, he has been clock watching to see that his team is on schedule to raise thousands of pounds for Lilly's charity of the year - the National Osteoporosis Society.

As well as running for charity, Mr Hotchkiss is also looking to fulfill a personal ambition by successfully pounding the streets of London and covering the 26 miles in just under three-and-a-half hours.

Work commitments allowing, he has been out training with team members three or four times a week during lunch breaks, running from Lilly House in Priestley Road around the trails of Basingstoke hospital.

One of the Lilly team is Jo Greenfield, who works in corporate affairs. Her target is to run the marathon in four-and-a-half to five hours.

She said: "I worked out that, for every step I take - approximately 83,000 during the course of the marathon - I will be raising 2.5p for charity.

"Collectively, each step from the Lilly team will raise 20p for charity. This will certainly help us stay motivated on the way round."

As the pharmaceutical giant's team went into the final week of training, they had raised £6,000. And the company will match, pound for pound, whatever its employees raise - with the overall target being £16,000.

Also running from Lilly House are David Johnson and Gregory McConaghie, who will be joined by Glen Chapman from the manufacturing site in Kingsclere Road.

Completing the Eli Lilly marathon line-up will be Teresa Man, Tim Shayers and John Logue, who work for the company in Windlesham.