A ROAD-RUNNING father from Rowley Regis is tackling the London Marathon this weekend as the culmination of fundraising events to mark his 40th birthday.

Matt Johnson is raising cash for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and is set to be featured on the BBC coverage of the iconic marathon.

Sandwell Council website manager Matt already completed the Tough Guy run in Wolverhampton, the Suicide Six in Sedgley and the Santa Jog in Stourbridge.

The 40-year-old said: "I've chosen to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust as my wife, who passed away in 2004 a month after giving birth to our son Harry, suffered from the disease.

"I've raised over £1000 so far and I'm really pleased and grateful to everyone who has sponsored me so far - for this and the Tough Guy event I took part in in January."

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening disease, affecting almost 10,000 people in the UK, and there is presently no cure and raising money for the CFT is helping Matt train harder.

Matt has also made a YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4O5XihPP-0#t=167) about his challenge which has brought him to the attention of the BBC.

He said: "The BBC contacted me to feature me in their marathon day coverage - hopefully the reporter will catch me early in the race - as I'm not sure I'll have much conversation in me in the later miles."

For more information about Matt's challenges visit his blog www.bigfouroh.wordpress.com or www.justgiving.com/maf40.