When Jack McNeill pounds the streets of London in next Sunday's marathon, he'll be doing it alongside his elder brother Tom.

Jack is running in memory of his beloved brother who died seven years ago in a tragic accident while on holiday.

Jack is aiming to raise £1,800 in support of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

The 22-year-old actor was rushed to hospital with Meningococcal Meningitis almost exactly two years after Tom's death.

He said: "I was in a critical condition and the only reason I survived was thanks to a wonderful doctor who worked non-stop for many hours and fought for my life.

"I owe everything to him and, as you can imagine, my family went through an unimaginable time."

Jack has made a full recovery and wants to boost research into the terrible illness.

But he has also dedicated his efforts to his brother.

He said: "He was a very keen runner.

"While meningitis is close to my heart because I had it two years after his death, to dedicate the run to Tom's memory gives me extra impetus.

"Out of both of us, he was the keen runner and was a member of the Border Harriers. He was also a sprinter as well and ran 100 metres.

"Out of both of us it would have been him who wanted to run the marathon before me!

"I will be thinking of him as I run."

Jack, who lives in the Charlton area of London, is a former student of StagedRight theatre school in Carlisle which is run by his parents, David and Sallie.

He is expecting them to travel down to cheer him along the route and said: "The marathon has always been something I have gone and watched and I have always wanted to run it.

"I didn't get in last year, but I'm so pleased to represent the Meningitis Research Foundation."

Jack recently appeared in a stage tour of the children's Youtube sensation Little Baby Bum which has 18 million subscribers.

He played Peter Pan in panto last Christmas alongside Joe Pasquale and hopes to fly round the course.

But the keen sportsman realises the size of the task ahead of him: "I used to be captain of the football teams at school, I played rugby and team sport is always something I'm really into.

"As an actor you have to be pretty fit and I'm naturally quite fit, but just because I've played some games of football doesn't mean I can run a marathon.

"I have done a half marathon in an hour and a half and realistically, I'm thinking of completing it in 31/2 or nearly four hours, but my biggest aim is just to complete it.

"Whether that is in five or seven hours, I don't care.

"It's something that in 40 years time I will look back on and feel proud to have done."

If you want to support Jack, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JackMcNeill1

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