A PORTLAND man will be thinking of his father when he competes in his first London Marathon next month.

Neil Cradock, 28, will be making his running debut in aid of cancer charity Myeloma UK.

His father Christopher died from the illness in 2001 - three years after first being diagnosed.

Neil decided to support the charity, which helps fund research into one of the lesser-known cancers.

The investment manager, who works at Barclays Wealth in Dorchester, said: "Myeloma does not get the publicity that other cancers do and it's sort of hidden away.

"But it's a devastating bone marrow cancer and has no cure. I've been trying for three years to get into the race so I can help raise awareness of it."

Neil, who hopes to raise around £2,000, said his training for the race was going well.

"I've always wanted to try the marathon as a personal test. I'm training five times a week, swimming, cross-training in the gym and road-running.

"I had a calf injury recently which set back my training, but I hope to get somewhere around four hours."

Bosses at Barclays Wealth have promised to match the first £750 raised by their employee.

And Neil is expecting a personal best of his own when his girlfriend Sara Barber gives birth to their first child later this year.

"I think my dad would have been proud of me in more ways than one," he said.

To support Neil, visit the website www.justgiving.com/neilcradock