A RUNNING lorry driver is determined to complete this years London Marathon in piece to break the £20,000 barrier for charity.

New Cumnock man Derek Montgomery will be running his FOURTH London Marathon on April 24 in aid of Children With Cancer UK.

Since taking up running five years ago to keep fit and lose weight, the hobby has taken over Derek's life and he is now a top fund raiser for charity.

Derek is hopeful of raising £6k for his 2016 effort in London - a figure that would see his total eclipse the £20k mark.

In 2015 he ran over 1,400 miles in all sorts of weather enjoying his pastime.

Derek said: "The charity work however takes up a lot of my time, spending countless hours fundraising, organising events including football matches, Christmas raffles and online auctions with prizes donated from the local community, businesses and even Rangers and Celtic players have donated to the cause as well. On top of this I have children of my own and also work as a long distance lorry driver, driving all over the UK. I'm away five days a week so you just have to try and get some training in.

"This year has a special landmark though as I will hopefully break the £20,000 marker in fundraising for cancer charities over the last four years.

"I lost my father, brother and an uncle to cancer and hope the money raised can help in some small way to help a family struggling to cope with the disease.

"Although it's been tough at times the end results make it worthwhile. This year once again I have a shirt sponsor for the marathon with the help of a local family business W & E Lammie Plant Hire and Groundworks."

Derek's cause is one that is close to the heart of the Lammie family, who have been forced to go through a cancer scare, with one of their sons suffering from leukaemia.

Now Derek is gunning for glory - but he isn't worried about his recorded time.

He said: "Last year went like a dream. It was only about nine degrees and it was very Scottish weather. The year before it was about 23 degrees and it was boiling.

"I got first aid treatment after it last year for low blood sugar. I nearly went away in an ambulance. There's no way I went from New Cumnock to London to finish in an ambulance."

Derek is looking for as much donations as possible towards the charity and you can donate by going to www.justgiving.com/derek-montgomery8.