A YOUNG businessman from Huntingdon is taking part in a marathon for the first time in his life to raise money for a cancer charity.

Nathan Holmes set up his mobile bodywork business Revive! Cambridge five years ago and has never taken part in a big road race before.

But the 28-year-old signed up for a ten week training programme to tackle the Brighton Marathon on Saturday, April 14. Nathan has grown his business from scratch. He now has a team of staff and four vans on the road repairing scuffs and scrapes to vehicle and alloy wheels at customers’ premises.

He said: “Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not sporty in any way at all and no one would have ever expected me to run a marathon.

“It is a cliché but it is genuinely one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I have never been a runner and not really done much exercise before so this is a big deal for me.”

Added Nathan: “My job means I am out and about quite a lot and I spend a lot of time on my knees. Having said that after I have completed a training session my legs ache all over.

“Once I have got the marathon out of the way I won’t be doing any more races but I do intend to try and stay fit.” Nathan is hoping to raise money for Cancer Research UK and has set up an internet site so people can support his efforts. He has been training with his girlfriend Emma Hill who is also taking part in the race.

Nathan said: “I have had a number of close relatives who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last couple of years and I just decided I wanted to do something to help.

“Around one in three of us will get cancer at one stage in our lives. I am lucky because I have always been quite healthy but it just seemed right to try and raise money for Cancer Research.”

Nathan added: “I have not set myself a target but I am hoping to run around a mile every ten minutes. If I manage to keep to that target then I will be able to complete the marathon in around four and a half minutes.”

Revive! specialises in repairing minor scuffs and scrapes to vehicle bodywork and alloy wheels. It has the largest network of smart repairers in the UK and is the first to have ATA accredited technicians. As the preferred supplier of SMART repairs to major car dealerships and fleet operators its customers include Alfa Romeo Fiat, Lex Autolease and Mercedes.

The company worked closely with the Institute of the Motor Industry to drive up standards within the smart repair industry and as a result has paved the way for smart repair to become a top quality alternative to bodyshops for small areas of damage.