FAMILY is at the forefront of one man's attempts to run a world-famous marathon next year.

Andover management consultant Ian Trengove is taking on the London Marathon next year to raise money for Kidney Research UK because he suffers from the incurable kidney disorder Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which is hereditary.

The 45-year-old's mother and brother both have it, and Ian is worried that his two teenage children, Alexia, 16, and Jed, 14, might have inherited it.

Ian, a former major in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), said: “PKD is a little?known disease which involves cysts growing on the kidneys. As the cysts grow, they take up the space that the kidneys should have and the kidneys start to lose their effectiveness.

“At the moment my kidneys are at 47% effectiveness, and I will probably need a kidney transplant by the time I’m 60 – that’s what happened to my mother.

“We don’t know yet if my children Alexia and Jed have inherited it – there’s a 50-50 chance, and we’ll find out in the next four, five or six years.

“But I do feel as if I’m running not just for myself but for my children too. It would be great if the money I raise can help Kidney Research UK find a cure for PKD.

“So, without meaning to tug on the heart strings too much, I’m asking people to donate not for me, but for the kids!”

Ian has so far raised £1,637 towards his fundraising target. He added: “I’m just one tiny cog in a massive fundraising industry, so there’s no reason why a cure for PKD can’t be found if people keep raising money for research.”

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties, which is building new homes at The Chariots at Augusta Park on the outskirts of Andover, has contributed £250 to Ian’s fundraising target of £2,100.

Meanwhile Ian is working his fitness up to marathon standard, and aiming to complete the demanding race in less than four hours.

He added: "I need to be doing eight?and?a?half to nine-minute miles. And I’m running that pace in training, just not marathon distance yet!

“If I’m fit, it also keeps my blood pressure under control, as high blood pressure will damage my kidneys even further. I’m already on medication for that, and will be for the rest of my life.”

Roz Wells, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties, says: “Sometimes we get a request for a donation which we just can’t ignore – and this was one of those occasions. We’d like to wish Ian the very best of luck in running the London Marathon for such a worthy cause."