THE deputy editor for the Times is to take on the London Marathon with just three months of training under his belt after securing a place at the iconic event earlier this week.

Tom French has been given a place in the race on Sunday, April 24 to raise money for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK (PHA UK).

PHA UK is the only charity in Britain especially for people with the degenerative heart and lung condition pulmonary hypertension (PH). The charity is committed to helping improve the lives of people with PH, and supporting the PH community in the UK. They do this by funding research into PH, raising awareness of the condition, and helping people in their day-to-day lives.

Tom is raising money for the charity to show his support for his cousin Jo, who is battling two rare terminal illnesses. Doctors believe Jo is the only person in the world battling the combination of PH and lymphatic cancer, a cancer of the white blood cells that fight off infection.

Jo is caught in a tragic Catch-22 situation. For Jo to have a heart and lung transplant to cure her PH, she would have to be free of cancer. However, the treatment for Jo’s cancer is so aggressive, her organs already under strain from her pulmonary hypertension could not take the additional stress.

Tom said: ’While raising money — and finishing 26 miles — is the ultimate goal, I’m doing this to show support for my cousin, Jo. Jo is believed to be the only person in the world suffering from both PH and lymphatic cancer. A diagnosis of either one of these terminal illnesses would be devastating enough, but to have both is heart-breaking. The combination of diseases means that the conventional treatment for either condition would likely prove fatal.

’Jo is a warm, caring, fun and inspirational person, and a wonderful mother to her young son Rudey. Such a diagnosis would overcome the will of most of us, yet through it all Jo’s indomitable spirit is keeping her upbeat. I’m taking on the London Marathon in just three months to show my support to Jo, her mum Mary, sisters Sue and Cathy and the whole family.

’Due to only finding out about my charity place last Monday, PHA UK has not set me a minimum fundraising target but I’d like to raise as much as possible for them. They do very important work into the research of PH and raising awareness of the disease,

’I’ve run a marathon once before so I know what to expect, but the prospect is daunting. I have three months to lose my Christmas paunch and get into the best shape I’ve ever been in to complete the course. It’ll be tough but with everyone’s support I’ll get it done.’

If you would like to support Tom’s efforts, you can donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/FrenchiedoestheLondon or you can drop into the Times front office, where there will be a sponsorship form on the front desk.