AN amateur musician has plucked up the courage to take on the London Marathon – and will be carrying his trusted ukulele around the famous course.

Kevin Kilmartin, of Worcester, will be running on ukelear power when he faces the fitness challenge in April and may even strum a tune or two to keep his spirits high during the 26.2-mile slog.

He hopes his unconventional approach will hit the right note with friends and family and inspire them to donate to the Stroke Association, his chosen charity.

The 42-year-old, who is a member of the Worcester Ukulele Club, said: “Hopefully running with my ukulele will help my efforts get as much attention as possible and encourage people to donate.

“Ukuleles are relatively light but it is still going to be a massive challenge.

“I know a number of people including my 95-year-old grandad who have suffered strokes.

“The work of the Stroke Association therefore is a cause close to my heart and its work is very important to a lot of people.”

Mr Kilmartin ran the Worcester City 10k for the national charity in September and his ukulele club have been fundraising for the medical cause all year.

He hopes to raise £2,000 in total and has already collected about £400.

A session of ukulele busking at the Tesco superstore in Warndon on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, has been planned to help boost this figure.

To donate visit justgiving.com/kevin-kilmartin