Delaney runs marathon for disabled daughter

In April 1996 Mark Delaney was in hard training for his contest with all-time great Joe Calzaghe, and 14 years later he is again pounding the pavements near his Hornchurch home - but now it's for a pretty two year old blind girl in a wheelchair.

His daughter Lilly suffered an attack of meningitis at the age of five weeks that left her seriously handicapped and the 38-year-old former WBO Intercontinental champion runs the London Marathon on April 25 to raise charity cash for the First Step Centre she attends in Hornchurch, Essex.

The former West Ham fighter admits he has enjoyed preparing for the marathon  - "I get a buzz training for the event - just like I used to before a fight," said Delaney whose defeat in a British super-middleweight title fight against Calzaghe was his first after 21 straight victories.

He continued his career and retired in 2000 after losing a British light-heavyweight title clash with Neil Simpson but he is constantly reminded of the Calzaghe defeat.

"I scored 26 victories in 29 bouts but the only contest anyone mentions is the Calzaghe clash," he admits with a smile, "but I must admit Joe was a really special fighter."

Delaney, a father of four who works as a double glazing fitter with Newham council, has run just one marathon before and is determined to beat his previous time of around five hours.

However his real target is to raise the charity cash for the First Step Centre he insists has done "fantastic work for Lilly and other special needs children."

Mark welcomes donations for his charity run which can be forwarded to www.justgiving.com/marks-marathon-mission