A TEACHER is preparing to run a half marathon in honour of his father, a fireman who suffered throat cancer believed to have been caused by his job.

Phil McIver, who teaches at Lewes Old Grammar School and is also a part-time fireman in Burgess Hill, hopes to raise hundreds of pounds on the March 1 run for the Firefighters Charity.

It supported his family during his father John’s struggle with cancer of the larynx.

John died in 2013 at the age of 78, though not as a result of his throat cancer.

Studies have shown the rate of deaths from cancer in firefighters under the age of 75 is up to three times higher than in the general population.

Firefighters up and down the country have called for more protection after research found they were being exposed to dangerously high levels of harmful chemicals.

Research showed firefighters were more at risk of getting cancer because of contaminated clothing and equipment. The Fire Brigades Union has called on the Government to do more to protect them.

Phil, 48, said: “Dad served in Merseyside Fire Brigade, where I grew up, after doing ten years in the Merchant Navy.

“Back then, there was little knowledge about the links between cancer and firefighting and you would even have men who, like my dad, were known as “smoke-eaters” – who went into fight fires without any breathing equipment.

“When Dad was diagnosed, The Fire Fighters Charity really helped our family and we had a holiday down in Devon. They also helped with the funeral costs years later when he died of another illness. As a firefighter myself, it feels important to say thank you for what the charity did for my family.”

Phil, who ran the Brighton Marathon in 2011 and 2012 but nothing since, will be tackling the Vitality London Half Marathon on March 1.

He said he kept his fitness up by playing rugby for the Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents as “their first straight player”.

To sponsor him, search for him on virginmoneygiving.com.