A man is running his sixth marathon for a cancer charity after his mother and great-grandmother beat the disease.

George Pur, a project manager from Bayswater, will take part in the London Marathon on Sunday for World Cancer Research Fund.

Mr Pur, 32, chose the charity after seeing what his mother, Helena, 57, went through when she battled thyroid cancer and underwent chemotherapy in 2003. His great grandmother also suffered intestinal cancer and her sister had breast cancer - but they both survived and lived into their 90s.

He said: “My mother has always been an amazing role model in my life. Seeing her go through such a distressing and challenging life experience made me determined to help in the fight against cancer.

“She had a difficult but courageous recovery and I feel so lucky that she pulled through. She will be in my thoughts as I run the marathons.”

The runner has previously completed marathons in Berlin, Paris, Prague and Amsterdam, and has so far raised £1,300 for WCRF which funds scientific research and health information on cancer prevention.

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeorgePur to donate.