RONAN O’Byrne will run the London Marathon later this month in honour of a friend who collapsed and died from a hidden heart condition when competing in a running event last year.

John McHugh, 23, collapsed near the finish of the Dublin half-marathon on September 19 last year after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Mr O’Byrne, who has lived in Chippenham for the last two years, will attempt to run 26.4miles around London on April 24 and raise money towards Cardiac Risk in the Young and Epilepsy UK.

“I’d played with John in a rugby team from 18 to 22 years old but I knew him before when I was about 15 growing up in Ireland,” said the 24-year-old, who has worked at Siemens on their graduate scheme since September 2014 after moving to Wiltshire.

“It was awful, especially for one of the guys who was running with him when it happened.

“I can’t imagine how he would have felt. It brought everyone a lot closer together and it was just a shock.

“I choose CRY mainly because of John, they care for people my age who might have cardiac issues.

“I also chose Epilepsy UK because I’ve had it since I was eleven so it’s nice to raise a few bob for them.”

Those who make a £5 donation will also have the chance to win a number of prizes, including signed rugby shirts from teams such as England, Ospreys, Leinster, Ulster, London Irish and Bristol.

There are also weekend tickets to the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone, vouchers for restaurants and theatre tickets.

“Anyone who donates £5 gets to choose a time they think I’m going to finish the race,” added Mr O’Byrne.

“The closest to my time gets the first pick of the prizes, then the second closest gets to pick and so on.

“Training has been going good. A few of my friends did the Cheltenham half-marathon last year and I tagged along but apart from that I’ve not done anything like this before.

“I’ve played hurling, rugby and football so I’ve mainly been involved with team sports more so than just solo sports.”

Make a donation by going to virginmoneygiving.com and searching for Ronan O Byrne.