AN AMATEUR runner from Kent is getting ready to pound the streets of London for this year’s marathon to raise awareness of the illness that claimed his mother's life.

John Parsonage, 29, is running in excess of 35 miles per week to prepare himself for the big race on April 22 to raise cash for Epilepsy Research Foundation (ERF).

The sudden death of his mother, Sally Parsonage, appeared on the front page of the Kent Messenger in 1986 when she collapsed two hours after saying goodbye to her two young boys at the gates of Ulcombe School, near Maidstone.

Now 21 years later, John, a former pupil at Swadelands school, Lenham, is keen to do what he can to make more people aware of epilepsy.

He said: “I’m raising money for the ERF because epilepsy claimed my mother’s life when I was nine years old and she was only 34. I would really like to help the ERF assist people like her and raise awareness of the condition.”

The furthest Mr Parsonage, who now lives in Rochdale Road, Tunbridge Wells, has previously run is eight miles. He started training in earnest before Christmas but was set back six weeks by shin splints.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” he said: “I’m now running in excess of 35 plus miles per week and it’s become an obsession. I love it.

“However, doing more than 15 miles really hurts and, as a result, I’m hobbling around for the next couple of days.

“I’m looking forward to when this is over and I can have a social life again.”

As an added extra, and to try and attract more donations, Mr Parsonage is promising to run like a robot.

Friends believe he looks like Peter Crouch, the tall England and Liverpool forward, famous for his robotic-dance celebration.

Mr Parsonage said: “To be honest, I cannot say I agree, but they have said that they will donate more money if I wear a Liverpool football top and run like a robot.

They also know I’ll do anything for money, so I’ve accepted the challenge.”

If you would like to donate and help Mr Parsonage raise cash for ERF, visit www.justgiving.com/parsonage