PUPILS at 26 schools across Swindon will help run a marathon to support the mayor of Swindon and make healthy exercise part of their daily routine.

Each school has agreed to get one year group to run a mile onsite at the same time as mayor Junab Ali races to complete his own 26-mile marathon.

Instead of the London Marathon the mayor will tour Swindon on April 24 in eight different stages, stopping off at landmarks, schools and the council offices throughout the day to raise money for three charities; The Harbour Project, Swindon 105.5 and Twigs.

The mayor's route will bypass Westlea Primary and Commonweal School where pupils will actually join him for part of the official race.

There are approximately 68 schools in Swindon and the surrounding areas so more could still sign up

Mayor Junab Ali, who has Type 2 diabetes, told the Adver: "The others will be running in spirit with me. It's all about trying to get all of our communities and schools participating.

"Even walking makes a difference. I call it a natural medication, it doesn't matter how old or young you are. It is a way of getting people out and about and getting them active.

"I won't be stopping, I'll just be going at a slow pace. In between my hectic mayoral duties I'll be fitting in a 5k here and 10k there. If I haven't died by the end of it, I'll crawl the 26.2 miles if I have to finish on April 24, hopefully in the process raise the money for the three charities."

Stuart Arthur, one of the Beat the Street Co-ordinators from last year, said the Mayor's positive example in leading the way presented a great opportunity to motivate pupils around the town to join him by completing a mile.

He told the Advertiser: "Off the back of how successful the schools were in Beat the Streets this was a great opportunity of getting schools to join the major without them all actually being there physically.

"It's just a good way of helping children do the necessary 20 minutes of physical activity that they need to do every day to stay healthy.

"It's really important for schools to take that message on, it helps with concentration and in the long run is good for education as well."

Run over six weeks last autumn, Beat the Street saw more than 31,000 people get outdoors last year in a bid to clock up points for their schools and community groups.

If the boost in activity levels are kept up over the next five years, it has been estimated that the savings to the public purse and the local economy could be £8.8m – as people spend fewer days off sick and use NHS services less frequently.

To donate to the mayor's marathon go to the fundraising page.