A runner from Brentwood with a burning desire to raise money is spicing up his training for the London Marathon and joining forces with his local Indian restaurant to throw a curry night in aid of The Children’s Society.

Tim Baker, 26, who ran the London Marathon for the children’s charity last year, has decided to organise a curry night for his friends at Chutney Joe’s in Brentwood on Sunday as part of his fundraising efforts.

The dedicated runner will be tackling the gruelling 26.2 mile course for The Children’s Society in April along with 120 other runners, all raising money for vulnerable children. He is hoping this event will help him hit his £2,000 fundraising target and support the charity’s work with the most vulnerable children across the country suffering abuse, hardship and neglect.

Tim has a longstanding connection with The Children’s Society, and his family have been donating to the charity via collection boxes in their home all his life. His family also supports the charity via their local church.

He is expecting at least 20 of his friends and family to come along to Chutney Joe’s for some spicy dishes and fiery feasts and the restaurant has agreed to give a significant contribution from the bill to help the charity’s work with some of the country’s most vulnerable children.

Tim said: “I ran the marathon for The Children’s Society last year in 3 hours 7 minutes and I really want to improve on my time this year. I’m a regular at Chutney Joe’s in Brentwood and I knew it wouldn’t be that difficult to get a load of my friends and family to come along to eat some tasty hot curry on a cold January night!  It’s fantastic that the restaurant have agreed to donate a substantial amount of the takings from our bill to charity.

“I’ve been training really hard and I know The Children’s Society does amazing work to protect Britain’s vulnerable children so I’m hoping this curry night along with my sponsorship donations will help me smash my target for this fantastic cause!”

The Children’s Society’s Challenge Event Co-ordinator Reena Ruda said: “We’re delighted that Tim thought up this amazing idea to raise money with his local curry house to give his London Marathon fundraising efforts a boost and raise awareness of The Children’s Society. We work to help children and young people who have nowhere left to turn, so with the support of inspiring people like Tim, we’re able to continue our life-changing work.”

Donate to Tim’s Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TimBaker11

For more information about The Children’s Society’s challenge events: www.childrenssociety.org.uk/events