NEWPORT electrician Joshua Skinner is hoping to give something back to a charity that helped him when he had cancer when he takes part in this year’s Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 24-year-old will be running for Latch, a charity that supports the children and their families who are being treated by the Oncology Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Wales.

It is an organisation close to Joshua’s heart as they helped him when he was diagnosed with cancer more than a decade ago.

After ten tough years Joshua was discharged and the Pinewood Close resident insists taking part in this year’s Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon on October 4, is the least he can do to say thank you.

“When I was 11 or 12 I had cancer of the liver and lung. I’ve always wanted to give something back to Latch,” he said.

“I have never really done anything to give something back, so thought I would do the half marathon.

“They gave me chemotherapy, which saved my life really and while I was in hospital they gave me lots of gifts, they did lots of trips and I got to meet the Liverpool players.

“I rang Latch to ask what I could do to raise money. They said was I interested in doing the half marathon and my auntie and girlfriend signed up too. Between us We want to raise £500 each.”

Lloyds Bank is in its sixth year as sponsor of the event in Wales with the Cardiff Half Marathon, Wales’ largest mass participation event, along with our other community programmes helping bring to life the bank’s continuing commitment to Helping Britain Prosper.

More than 19,000 people regularly take part in the 10K and half marathon road races in Cardiff with one of Lloyds Bank’s aims to help encourage more people in sport.

“My training is going well. We do park runs in Tredegar Park every Saturday morning, which is five kilometres,” Joshua added. “I would like to finish in two hours 25 minutes.”

Entries are still available at cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk for people wanting to run for Barnardo's.