LAWYERS will be swapping their suits for sweatbands as they attempt to run 10km for a condition dubbed the Swindon disease.

Two lawyers from legal firm Thrings, which has an office in Swindon and specialises in asbestos-related compensation claims, are set to take part in the run for Mesothelioma UK.

Partner Graeme Chisholm and solicitor James Trescothick-Martin will travel to London and run part of the marathon route as the first of several events to raise money for the charity, after the firm became official sponsors for the next year.

Mesothelioma is called the Swindon disease due to the large numbers of railway workers in the town who have contracted it, and Richard Green, a solicitor at the Greenbridge-based firm, said: “Our motivation for teaming up with Mesothelioma UK is because we have seen the devastating impact the disease can have.

“While we try and recover compensation for them we also want to raise money for the charity, which supports sufferers and can put money into research. Not that much in known about these diseases at the moment and if we can help get more money for research then it can help people in the future. This is something that will go on for years to come.”

Graeme and James will be running separate half-marathons later this year for the charity, and other fundraising events are planned for the next 12 months.

To sponsor them, visit www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Chisholm or www.justgiving.com/JamesTrescothick-Martin.