AN ANDOVER man who previously weighed over 20 stone will attempt to run a halfmarathon after losing three and a half stone since April.

Matthew Thomas, pictured, from Weyhill Road, had not exercised in a decade but after finding motivation to get in shape he is now taking on the 13.1-mile run around Newbury to help raise money for Sebastian’s Action Trust.

Matthew, aims to lose a further two stone in the coming months.

He said: “I woke up the Tuesday after Easter and just decided I needed to lose weight.

“My mother has type 2 diabetes and seeing her daily struggles made me realise I don’t want to end up like that.

“So I started out running a 5k for Boys Beating Cancer in July and it started from there. Now I’m addicted”

Matthew, who works as an analyst for Vodafone, is running as part of the company’s ‘Big Bold Challenge’, which aims to get colleagues around the country to run, cycle or walk a combined 20,000 miles on Thursday, 25 September.

Each employee can choose which charity they raise money for and Vodafone has offered to match each colleague’s total, up to £350.

Matthew’s chosen charity– Sebastian’s Action Trust – is based in North Waltham and provides respite facilities for very sick children.

The charity looks after children from all over the south and received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year.

He said: “I’m a great believer in making sure what I’m doing means something to somebody and a great believer in supporting a local charity.”

Matthew has recently applied for a place in next year’s London Marathon.

For more information and to donate log on to justgiving.com/ Matthew-Thomas26/