A banker will be running in a hot and humid Sierra Leone marathon for charity.

Christopher Shepherd, of The Terrace, Woodford Green, will run 26.2 miles in Makeni on May 25 with funds going to Street Child, who offer children living on the street support.

The 35-year-old works for Bank of America in the Canary Wharf and will be travelling to Sierra Leone next month along with eight of his work colleagues.

He is a member of Woodford Green Athletic Club and has so far raised £1,591, and is aiming for £2,000.

Sierra Leone, from 1991 until 2002 it was engaged in a brutal civil war which left over 50,000 people dead. Street Child have helped 2,000 children off the streets and provided 20,000 children with the chance to go to school since 2009.

As well as the marathon, they will be seeing the work the charity does in the week they spend in the country.

He said: “I was researching a little bit about the charity and thought why not. I have done a lot of running anyway and I am always looking for interesting events to get involved in.

“There will be really challenging aspects of the race and I like the idea of really challenging myself. IT will be very tough but very worthwhile.”

“Running on dirt tracks in very hot and humid conditions for 26.2 miles will be tough but I will be giving all I have to break the magic 3 hours. I welcome any time based bonus incentives to raise as much money as I possibly can for the kids of Sierra Leone!”

Support Mr Shepherd’s fundraising: http://www.justgiving.com/baml