A teacher is running the Virgin London Marathon in a fortnight for a children’s charity celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Samuel Manley, 25, a biology teacher at Ewell High School, will be among 1,000 people in the Mr Men and Little Miss team collectively running 25,000 miles - the earth’s circumference - on Sunday 21, April, to raise money for Children with Cancer UK.

Mr Manley, who hopes to raise £1,500 for the charity, which was inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales in January 1998, will be running against his close friend and sporting rival Josh Pond, who he grew up with on the Isle of Wight.

He said: "We are both very excited about being able to compete in the prestigious London Marathon for such a great cause."

"I used to be a keen footballer but due to an injured knee due to football I have been forced into a coaching-only role and keep my fitness levels up through running."

Ben Twyman, head of events at Children with Cancer UK, said he was thrilled that Mr Manley was joining the team in the charity's anniversary year.

He said: "Whilst we have made great advances over the past 25 years, we are more committed and determined than ever to fund life-saving research and will not stop until all childhood cancer is eradicated."

Make a donation at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SamuelManley and more information at childrenwithcancer.org.uk