A MATHS teacher is running three marathons in five weeks in aid of people suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Kyle Parsad, 27, from Rayleigh has already run the Rome Marathon and is now preparing to complete both the Paris and London marathons in April.

Mr Parsad, a teacher at James Hornsby School, in Basildon, said he decided to run in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust after seeing a former girlfriend live with the condition.

He said: “My ex-girlfriend had cystic fibrosis and it has always been close to my heart and a pupil at the school also has it.

“It is a charity which doesn’t get much attention, so many people suffer from it but people wouldn’t realise what they are going through.”

Cystic fibrosis is a lifeshortening genetic condition – only half of people diagnosed live to celebrate their 40th birthday.

“It causes the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, to become clogged with thick sticky mucus, resulting in chronic infections and inflammation of the lungs.

Mr Parsad said: “It makes me think how lucky I am, and that’s part of the reason I am running, for those people who can’t.”

No stranger to running marathons, Kyle ran the London race in 2011 and completed the Rome event in four hours and eight minutes last week.

He said: “I applied to run Rome after falling in love with the city and then I thought why not try Paris and London too. If I’m training for one then I should be ready for all three.

“Rome was really hard. I wasn’t well and wasn’t feeling great and running on those cobbles streets was difficult. At 16 miles I cramped up and by 20 I wanted to lie down, but I did it.”

So far Mr Parsad has raised more than £1,300 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

To sponsor him, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Kyle Parsad