A Telegraph & Argus reporter is appealing for sponsors as he prepares to run the London Marathon in support of the stop smoking charity Quit.

Mark Casci, (25), is trying to raise £1,200 for the charity which does vital work in helping smokers to kick the habit.

He took up the challenge partly because of the paper's Clear the Air campaign to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.

He said: "As a former smoker and someone who has lost very close people through smoking related illnesses, I felt it was the most appropriate charity to run for.

”Training is going really well and I just need to start getting the cash together for my fundraising effort."

Mark, (pictured), has set up a website to allow people to sponsor him. To pledge money to Mark's marathon fundraising effort go to:
www.justgiving.com/markcasci