STOURPORT golf professional who vowed "never again" after completing last year's London Marathon, is to tackle the gruelling 26-mile course again in a bid to help young cancer sufferers.

Graham Glenister, 38, has been training since October for the 26.2-mile event he is running in aid of Children with Leukaemia.

The Pinta Drive resident was inspired to help the cause after his friend, former England international footballer, Geoff Thomas, was diagnosed with the illness.

Mr Glenister said: "Last year, I managed to raise more than £4,000. The support I received was fantastic. One member handed me £500 because his granddaughter was one of the youngest children ever diagnosed with leukaemia.

"I vowed not to go through it again. I absolutely hate the training at times but it all changes when you actually run the marathon because it is such a buzz. It said on some tee-shirts handed out last year "Never again, until next year", and that is exactly what it is like."

The father-of-four, who has lost more than six stones through his strict training regime, will be cheered on by his wife, Sue, and three of his children on April 23.

Mr Thomas, who played nine times for his country, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2003 and underwent a lifesaving bone marrow transplant the following year.

He successfully completed the 2,200-mile Tour De France course, before the professional riders tackled it last summer, to raise £170,000 for leukaemia charities and was given the prestigious Helen Rollason Award in recognition of his efforts during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.

The tough tackling midfielder, who ended his football career as a team-mate of Mr Glenister's, playing for Brintons Chainwire in the Kidderminster League, told the Shuttle/Times and News he had "nothing but respect" for his friend.

The 41-year-old explained: "For someone to go through 26 miles of hell for the cause is amazing. It really is a tough ask and takes a lot of commitment because of the hours of training. The amount of work the charity has done already has made a massive difference and it has helped so many children with leukaemia to survive."

Mr Glenister is offering free golf equipment checks to anyone who supports the cause. To donate, contact him at Ombersley Golf Club on 01905 620747 or visit www.bmycharity.com/gorunglenbo

To find out more about Mr Thomas's fund-raising efforts, which take him to America in June for the 3,052-mile Race Across America cycle race, visit www.geoff-thomas.com