Leeds student running London Marathon 2020 to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis charity

Events Management student Cameron Harris, known as Cam, will be raising money for MS UK - a charity which empowers and supports anyone affected by MS.

Cam, 19, who lives on Burley Road, chose the charity as it is a condition close to his heart.

His mother Wendy has been living with the brain and spinal cord condition for 14 years - being diagnosed when Cam was just five years old.

The Leeds Beckett student said: "My mum was diagnosed 14 years ago.

"I remember that I first got into cooking when I was about 14 because my mum began to physically struggling to peel vegetables because of her illness.

"There are so many questions and worries that MS sufferers have, you cannot always go to the doctors to ask these questions.

"The service which MS-UK gives reassurance that there is someone to listen to, when you really need a friendly voice to hear your concerns.

"We are very lucky as a family that we can afford medicine and treatment but not everyone can.

"I want to help those people."

This is the second time Cam, who is originally from New Zealand but lived in the UAE for 13 years before moving to Leeds, has taken on the challenge of the London Marathon.

In 2019 he raised £2000 for MS UK and his family flew over to support him.

Cam said: "The whole family was very worried in the build up as I think I was the seventh youngest runner taking part in the marathon which was nerve-wracking.

"My parents, Wendy and Peter, travelled over from the UAE to watch me. They were running all over London trying to catch a glimpse of me.

"It wasn't too bad as I am quite a good runner but I did really struggle in the last five miles.

"My mum was very proud of me when I crossed the finish line."

The Events Management student has upped his training as the marathon draws closer, admitting he "let himself go a bit" in the first semester as he settled into his new university life.

He said: "In the first semester you let yourself go and have fun but in the second semester you calm down a bit.

"I'm running four times a week now around the streets and parks of Leeds.

"I'm making sure I get the training done and going out like once a week."

Cam has a target of £2,000 for his London Marathon 2020 run.

If you would like to donate to his fundraising for MS UK please visit his Just Giving page here.