A YOUNG girl from Worcester who has terminal cancer will meet one of her favourite TV characters to create a "special memory that lasts forever" for her family.

Soldier Wayne Smith will run the London Marathon this weekend for a charity that will be making seven-year-old Lily-Mai's dream of meeting Mr Tumble come true.

Lily-Mai is the daughter of Wayne's partner, Liz, and he is taking part in the 26.2-mile race this Sunday with the aim of raising £2,000 for Make-a-Wish.

The 34-year-old explained that he decided to take part in the famous fundraising event after being inspired by Lily-Mai, who lives in Ronkswood with her mum.

Mr Smith said: "Lily-Mai has a terminal cancer diagnosis so every day is both a blessing and a battle.

"In the year or so that Lily-Mai has been in my life I have seen her slowly deteriorate – she has less energy and is less mobile as time goes by.

"Luckily she has a fantastic mum, my girlfriend Liz, and a big brother and sister, Blake and Chloe, who all enjoy entertaining Lily-Mai, which is sometimes a difficult job especially as she becomes tired quite quickly these days."

On the charity, he added: "Make-a-wish do fantastic work. The difference a wish can make to the child and their family is immense – granting wishes from a simple day at the seaside, up to a trip to Disney World."

Mr Smith said the charity will be making Lily-Mai's wish, to meet Justin Fletcher AKA Mr Tumble from CBeebies, come true with a trip to Reading later this month.

"It will be a day we are not thinking about a diagnosis, and Lily-Mai will get to see a show from him," he said.

"It will be a special memory that lasts forever."

Mr Smith is already well on the way to the target amount, having raised more than £800 for the charity, including having his legs waxed which raised £230.

He said training had been going well for the marathon and he was hoping to run the distance in a time of less than four-and-a-half hours.

"I have been training in rain and snow, but I'm hearing the temperature is going to be 22C, so runners are having to prepare for it being hot," he said.

"I am now looking for the help of the kind people from my hometown – companies or people that will be willing to donate, to help me reach my goal and to help change the lives of as many children as possible."

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/fundraising/wayne-smith-marathon.

Alternatively text MAWM65 followed by the amount you want to donate - up to £10 - to 70070.