A BREAST surgeon is to swap his scalpel for some running shoes as he prepares to run the London Marathon for a breast care charity with strong links to Worcester's breast unit.

Consultant breast surgeon Mr Steven Thrush, based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, is to run the London Marathon for breast cancer charity the Haven in his first ever marathon.

However, Mr Thrush is no stranger to putting himself through some rather gruelling ordeals if it means he can raise money for the breast unit and improve care for his patients, completing the Three Peaks Challenge five years ago which involves climbing the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Virgin Money London Marathon is to take place on Sunday, April 26, beginning in Greenwich and finishing in The Mall, taking in many of the capital's greatest landmarks.

Mr Thrush, the founder of the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign to create a life-saving at 220 Newtown Road, said: "This is my first marathon and felt it was a great way to show the link between the new breast unit and the Haven.

"Training went well at first but has been tricky over the last few weeks because of work."

He said he was confident about finishing but added: "I won't break any records."

Mr Thrush of Wick, just outside Pershore, has received support from wife Jessica and his three children and has been training for two hours a night.

The breast unit campaign was launched in October 2009 but since then a deal has been agreed with the Haven, the first time the charity has been co-located with NHS facilities.

The Haven is a charity which provides, free of charge, a wide range of therapies that help people deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer.

Specialists nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes for each visitor.

There are three such centres nationally, including one in Hereford but the charity is hoping to open two more, in Worcester (which will be a pilot) and Hampshire, taking the total to five.

Mr Thrush said: "Just over five years ago we set up the campaign to provide a breast unit for Worcestershire.

"An exciting development to this has been the incorporation of services to be provided by the Haven.

"The Haven provides complimentary care for women and men who have had breast cancer with centres in London, Hereford and Leeds.

"The care they provide is evidence based and ensures that we look after the individual and not just treat a disease. Such a collaboration is the first of its kind but does require purely charitable funding. The money I raise goes specifically to the Worcestershire service.

"I can't thank you enough for supporting me in this event, the Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign and the Haven."

As a Fellow of the University of Worcester Mr Thrush said the distance covered would go towards supporting 'the mission to the moon and back'.

The University of Worcester is spearheading a ‘Moon Mission’, which will involve members of the local community walking, pushing, running, pedalling, swimming, toddling, rowing, wheeling to collectively travel the distance to the moon and back (477,714 miles).

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Steven-Thrush1/