A father-of-two who survived leukaemia is set to join a cricket legend for a charity walk.

Mark Eates, 44, will be walking with Sir Ian Botham at Epsom Downs to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the bone marrow transplant that saved his life.

Mr Eates, from Worcester Park, will be joining Sir Ian on the sixth leg of his walk to beat childhood leukaemia on April 15, to raise funds for blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in 1994 after his wife, Nicola, arranged a doctor's appointment.

Mr Eates said: "I'd been feeling a bit rundown for a while and lost a lot of weight but hadn't thought much of it. When you hear news like that the bottom drops out of your world - you fear the worst.”

In the months that followed chemotherapy and medication proved ineffective, and a bone marrow transplant was his only option.

He said: "Nobody in my family was able to help, but a donor was found on the transplant register. I was told that the chances of finding a suitable match were slim - I was incredibly lucky".

"When I heard it had been 25 years since Beefy's first walk I had to get involved.

"The work he's done for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research is inspirational and I feel like I should be contributing".

Sir Ian will be walking through ten towns over ten days from April 10 to 19.

He will be setting out on the sixth day of his special charity walk from the Marks & Spencer on High Street, Sutton on Thursday, April 15 and will walk for 10 miles through Epsom and Ewell before arriving at Epsom Downs.

Sir Ian said: "I never lose sight of why I keep walking for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research; I know it will mean in the future that every child and teenager diagnosed with blood cancers will survive.

"But I can't do it on my own. So, please, sign up now and help us fight this terrible disease."

To join Sir Ian visit www.beefy25.com email beefy25@lrf.org.uk or call 020 7685 5143.