A TEACHER and personal trainer is aiming to complete his first marathon in three and a half hours.

Tony Germany, from Bury St Edmunds, is taking part in next month’s London Marathon in aid of Ormiston Children and Families Trust and is hoping to raise £1,500.

The 25-year-old, who teaches at Debenham High School, said: “This will be my first marathon and if all goes well, it will be the first of many.

“I enjoy running, not only does it benefit my physical fitness but my mental fitness too.

“It helps me to put things in perspective. I think about the pain that I might experience in the form of a tight muscle or post-exercise muscle soreness, but it’s nothing compared to what some children and young people have to go through in their lives.”

Mr Germany has adopted a strict training regime to help him complete the 25.2-mile race.

“I would love to complete the course in three and a half hours and my training suggests that I should make this target but I would still be pleased with anything under four hours,” he added.

“My training schedule consists of a five-mile run, an hour of continuous hill training, a running-specific gym session and a long run which is currently sitting at 18 miles.”

So far he has raised £500 for Ormiston, which offers support to children and families affected by imprisonment as well as offering support to parents around issues such as domestic violence and poverty.

Mr Germany is also taking part in the Rat Race Dirty Weekend – a 20-mile obstacle course – three weeks after the London Marathon to boost his fundraising efforts.

Visit www.justgiving.com/tonygermany to donate to his cause.