AFTER his young wife was diagnosed with arthritis Thomas Fairfield decided he wanted to do something to raise money and awareness for the disease.

He will be taking part in the London Marathon on April 23 and will be donating his fundraising money to Arthritis Research Campaign.

Mr Fairfield, 25, of Cornbrash Rise, in Paxcroft Mead, said he was shocked when his wife Laura developed the disease nearly two years ago when she was just 22.

The couple have a 19-month-old son Ashton and Mrs Fairfield began to get ill three months after he was born.

Mr Fairfield said: "She started to get some form of arthritis with pain in her knees going to her ankles, elbows fingers and spine.

"She is only 24 but it's got to the stage when even at her absolute best she still struggles to walk a mile. She has been going to the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases Hospital in Bath. They are trying to establish what arthritis it is."

He applied for an application for the marathon as soon as they were available in August and has been working hard to prepare for the race.

He said: "There is a certain irony about running for someone who is unable to run. I was never a runner before last August but in my training I've done the Bristol and Bath half marathons so I've been gradually building up.

"I enjoy the camaraderie of running and have met some great people and have been enjoying trying to raise money."

Mr Fairfield's target is £1,500. So far his total is £164 but he is hoping that will have risen to about £800 by the end of this week.

To sponsor him visit www.justgiving.com/arthritisresearch or contact (07952) 622244.