A first time marathon runner from Kenilworth has set his sights on raising at least £2,000 for charity JDRF when he completes the London Marathon this October.

Father of one, Tom Griffith is running for the type one diabetes charity having seen the impact the condition has had on his wife, Amy.

"I decided to support JDRF having seen the stuff she has to put up with, and what she needs to do just to survive really – as dramatic as that sounds," said Tom.

The Kenilworth Wardens player also said he has always had an ambition to run a marathon having seen his dad, Richard, run five.

"I've always wanted to do one, just so I can say that I have done it, and follow in his footsteps really," he added.

But there was also an element of "Dutch courage" that led to Tom entering the ballot.

"I came home after a pub lunch, after a couple of drinks, and the highlights of the marathon from last year were on the TV.

"At the end it said the ballot was open for 2022 and I thought to myself 'I could do that'."

Having initially been rejected to run for JDRF, the charity changed its mind after Tom asked how to improve his application for next year.

He has now started his fundraising campaign with a raffle that will be drawn in March.

Prizes range from hotel stays to meal vouchers, and have mostly been donated from local businesses.

And with tickets costing just £2 Tom hopes as many local people will get involved as possible.

"I started contacting companies to get some prizes and wanted to start early so I can see how much I have left to raise in the following months," he said.

"I have got some celebrity signed stuff, and have put a lot of effort to get some really good prizes.

"So hopefully people will look through the list and see something they fancy, and get involved."

Whilst the fundraising is well underway, his training is yet to begin.

Tom will start preparing in mid-April, with the longest run of the preparation programme – 20 miles – falling a month before the actual race.

He is also not setting himself time to complete the 26 miles in, saying he just wants to reach the finish line.

"I'll just be happy to finish it in one piece, that will be an achievement in itself."

Adding: "And if anybody wants to go for a run with me to keep me company whilst I am training around Kenilworth, that would be great too!"

You can enter by following this link to Tom's JustGiving page.

More Kenilworth news stories:

- Plans to build new 'parklet' on Station Road revealed by Kenilworth Town Council

- Convincing win for Kenilworth Sporting at Inberrow keeps them in promotion mix

Full prize list

• Coombe Abbey - 1 night dinner, bed and breakfast
• Warwick Castle - 2 tickets
• Coventry City - 2 tickets for a match at CBS Arena
• Cadbury World, Bournville - 1 family ticket (2 adults, 2 children)
• Hatton Adventure World - 4 tickets
• Glee Comedy Club, Birmingham - 2 tickets
• Coventry Blaze family ticket (2x adults, 2x U16's)

• Next Selection:

o 1x ladies and 1x men's gift set

o 1x novelty mug set

• John Lewis - Bang & Olufsen headphones and wooden croquet set
• Sainsbury's food hamper
• Stratford Garden Centre, Stratford on Avon - £10 voucher
• Boston Tea Party, Stratford on Avon - 2 vouchers for "coffee and cake for two"
• Bills, Leamington Spa - £60 voucher
• National Motorcycle Museum, Hampton in Arden – 5 tickets
• St Nicholas Park, Warwick - 2 fun passes for amusements or mini golf

• Mr Karting, Warwick - 2x 15-minute sessions
• Hart & Co, Leamington Spa - Cocktails for two
• The Racehorse, Warwick – Meal for two and a bottle of prosecco
• Hilltop Farm, Hunningham - Breakfast voucher for two
• Jump In - Warwick - 2 vouchers for 1 hour open jump/toddler time
• Entourage, Stratford on Avon - £50 voucher
• Beauty Circle, Wolston - 1 hamper

• M&L Melts with Lilz, Wolston – 2 hampers
• Lotus Cosmetics – Rugby - £150 voucher for laser hair removal
• Emma's Pantry, Wolston - Selection box of 8 mixed brownies
• Sweet Tooth Candystore – 1kg mixed bag of pink n'mix
• Angus Baskerville Magician, Kenilworth - 50% off booking
• Guy Pearson, Kenilworth Squash Club - Squash lesson
• Signed Ainsley Harriott cookbook and postcard

• Signed Mr Motivator autobiography
• 2x signed Gino D'Acampo cookbooks and postcard
• Signed Tony Robinson autobiography plus 5x signed childrens books
• Signed photo of Sir Steve Redgrave
• Signed Iain Dale book
• Cadbury's Milk Tray