TWO years to the day after starting a course of chemotherapy to fight cancer, Andrew Shippey will take on the Flora London Marathon.

Andrew, of Lisker Drive, Otley, will line up with tens of thousands of other runners on Sunday morning to tackle the 26-mile course for Imperial Cancer Research.

Andrew said: "I'm feeling good, I just want to get on with it now. I don't know what to expect at all but I can't wait to get started.

"I don't know if I'll be able to walk at the end of it - I just want to get to the pub - but I've managed 17 miles, which is what they recommend, okay."

Sunday is a landmark for the 20-year-old former Prince Henry's pupil who was diagnosed with testicular cancer aged just 18. It's a day his family feared he might never see when he was given a two per cent chance of survival during his treatment.

Mum Margaret said: "When I think that it's two years to the very day that he started his chemotherapy, it really brings it home."

Now fully fit and bursting with health, Andrew is raring to go and he has the full support of Wharfedale Newspapers and our readers, who have sent him on his way with a special 'good luck' message.

Andrew's fundraising efforts and donations from generous readers have already collected more than £1,600 for the charity, with plenty more cash expected to flood in.

His family have joined in, with ten-year-old cousin Amy Fernandes, from Yeadon, and her friends raising £60 by selling their toys and holding a raffle. And tomorrow a coffee morning will be held in Otley's Imperial Cancer Research shop in Kirkgate from 10am to 12.30pm to boost the coffers even more.

In the meantime, Andrew has returned to university in Derby until Saturday when he will travel down to London to register for the marathon, before spending the night in an hotel until the big day.

A high protein diet during the early part of this week will give way to carbohydrate-packed foods such as pasta towards Sunday.

And for all Andrew's supporters watching the event from 9.30am on Sunday, he will be wearing the number 36,565.

"I would like to complete it in four to four-and-a-quarter hours, but I've never done it before and it's just a case of finishing, really," he said.

l Donations to Andrew's appeal for Imperial Cancer Research can still be made at the Wharfedale Observer offices, 9 Orchard Gate, Otley LS21 3NX, or directly to a campaign account at the Yorkshire Bank quoting account number 173835, sort code 05 06 61.

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