COMPETING in this year's London Marathon will be a first for Police Community Support Officer Mark Wodarek-Black.

Mr Wodarek-Black will be raising money for Dorset-based children's hospice Julia's House and has been training hard.

He said he was first roped into the training by his colleague, desk station officer Tony Freudenfeld, who has completed several marathons.

Mr Wodarek-Black, 33, said: "Luckily I'm quite fit anyway but the very first run we did was 12 miles.

"Luckily for me Tony knows his stuff and has been taking me out on a lot of training runs.

"I chose to support Julia's House because it's a really worthwhile cause.

"I also know it's not an organisation where the money raised will be lost in the system.

"It's a small place so I know they will be putting all of the money towards something very practical and useful."

He added that he was aiming to have completed the recommended 18-mile run around a week before competing.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Wodarek-Black can visit www.justgiving.com/markwodarekblack or pop into Dorchester Police station.