AN East Lancashire man who struggled to come to terms with losing his unborn baby is putting his running shoes on to raise money for the charity that helped him overcome his grief.

Liam Kelly, from Rossendale, is running the London Marathon on April 18 to raise money for the Miscarriage Association.

The former pupil at St Theodore's RC High School, Burnley, is hoping to raise £1,500 for the charity that helped him and his wife Lorraine after she suffered a miscarriage.

He said: "It was about 12 years ago when we were unfortunate enough to suffer a miscarriage.

"When we did discover the charity, just knowing they were there and the information we could get from them helped us immensely.

"It brought the subject to the fore and we talked things through. We just weren't talking and it helped us with the things we didn't feel up to.

"There aren't many who have not been affected by miscarriage or who don't know someone who has been affected.

"It can be devastating but there is help available."

Liam, 46, had one application to run in the marathon rejected when he discovered the charity while looking on the internet. He contacted the Miscarriage Association, which researches miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies and works with health professionals to improve care standards, and asked if he could run on its behalf.

Now the keen Clarets fan, who has been in training for three months, is confident he will complete the race in under four hours.

He added: "I gave up smoking last May and decided I needed an incentive to keep off the ciggies and took up running.

"Then I needed an incentive to keep up the running so decided to enter a race, and races don't come much bigger than the London Marathon.

"It's all a bit daunting, but I'm determined to get there.

"I've been training nearly every day and have the blisters and aching joints to prove it!"