A Mitcham marathon runner battled through illness to complete the Virgin London Marathon.

Arham Haidri, 25, of Beverly Road, was struck down with a virus in the week before the event and was advised by his doctor not to take part.

But he did not let that stop him and finished in 5h59m.

Arham was running for the Royal National Institute of Blind People and is currently 80 per cent of the way to making his target of £1,650.

Arham claims that he is not a natural athlete but is now training to take part in a triathlon.

He said: “The longest distance I had ever run was 2.7 miles- to the station”

Every day 100 people begin to lose their sight and 87p of every pound donated goes directly to helping blind and partially sighted people.

“It was a great experience,” said Arham, who said his family, friends and work colleagues came out to support him. “You make a lot of friends along the way.”