The human resources manager of a leading builders warehouse will aim to complete a marathon mission in aid of a cancer charity next month, as he takes part in the London Marathon.

Simon Ball, who works for Selco Builders Warehouse at its support centre in Wythall, Birmingham, will line up for the London Marathon on 26 April, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He explained: "It's going to be a huge privilege running the London Marathon on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support. My wife lost her mother to cancer two years ago and the support we received from Macmillan was fantastic so it's great to have the chance to give something back.

"I ran the Edinburgh Marathon three years ago so I do have some experience but I'm delighted to have the chance to run London because it's an event I've been fascinated with over a number of years. I only found out a few weeks ago that I had a place in the London Marathon so my training has had to step up very quickly. I'm approaching it with dread and excitement in equal measures and the aims are to raise £2,500 for Macmillan and try to complete the course in 4hrs 45mins."

Macmillan Cancer Support has been the nominated charity of Selco Builders Warehouse for the last three years, with staff, customers and suppliers helping to raise over £175,000. Selco staff members have now voted in favour of continuing to support Macmillan for the next two years, with the target to take their total fundraising through the £300,000 mark.

Selco Builders Warehouse is a leading building supplies warehouse with a central support centre in Birmingham, and 36 branches across England and Wales. Selco branches in Wales and England supply a massive range of building materials including doors, windows, insulation, roofing, heating, plumbing supplies, lighting, electrical products, kitchens, bathrooms and timber.

Branches also offer an in-branch cafe, trade counter services, direct-to-site delivery options and van size parking spaces, all designed to make it easier for tradespeople to get onto the job as soon as possible. Tool and plant hire is also available across 21 branches in London and Nottingham.