Coventry City

Hart has already started his training regime for the run on April 6th and he says he wants to hit a £2,500 fundraising target so that he can name his own guide dog puppy on behalf of the Sky Blues.

"The work that the charity do really moves me and as a dog lover myself (he has a pet Labrador) I know it's a very special moment to introduce a dog to someone especially in a capacity like this where it can really change somebody's life," he said.

"It takes around £50,000 to raise and train just one guide dog and the charity receives no government funding so hopefully the money raised can help make a real difference to their local work."

The City physio ran the Brighton Marathon last year, finishing just outside three hours, a mark he hopes to break this year, and Guide Dogs' community fundraiser Liz Gilbert said she was delighted that the charity was receiving such strong support.

"Naming a puppy is a really special thing to do and we are absolutely delighted that Dave has chosen to concentrate his fundraising efforts on that," she said.

"There are around 180,000 blind and partially sighted people living in the UK who find it difficult to leave home on their own. Guide Dogs wants to change that, and we rely entirely on the generosity of the public to provide a service that makes a massive difference to the lives of blind and partial sighted people."