A HOSPICE counsellor will be teaming up with two colleagues from Crewe and Nantwich to tackle this weekend’s London Marathon.

Kevin Benson will be looking for words of support to help him round the gruelling Virgin London Marathon cheered on by the families and his colleagues at The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.

Kevin is a well-known by the families at the hospice who he supports with counselling and art therapy. He has been training for six months from jogs to three hour runs in preparation for Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon.

Also joining Kevin are Lewis Porter, from Nantwich, Kath Mellor, from Burslem, and Cathy Atherton from Weston, Crewe.

Kevin will be travelling from his home in Mow Cop to London, on Saturday, ready to take his place at the start of the 26 mile 385 yard course.

Kevin, 52, said: “My aim is just to get to the finish line so I can make as much money as possible for the children at the Hospice. The time isn’t important to me, its raising as much money as we can to help the children. The kids love painting and it helps them express things which they can’t talk about so I’d love to be able to get a load of new paints and some more brushes.

“Everyone has been great at the hospice and the mums and dads have been wishing me good luck. The training has been going really well, even though I had an injury to my foot a few weeks ago, but the children have been encouraging me to keep going – they’re a real inspiration.”

To make a donation go to justgiving.com/Kevin-J-Benson