Irish pop star Ronan Keating is calling on fans to sponsor him to run the London Marathon next month.

The 30-year-old singer will tackle the 26 mile course through the British capital to raise money for Cancer Research UK - a cause close to his heart. Keating mother, Marie, lost her battle with disease in 1998.

So far Keating has raised $6,000, thanks in part to a $3,000 one-off donation from his record label Polydor.

He writes on his website, "I'll be running the London Marathon for the first time with my 'Team Ronan' colleagues Mark Plunkett, Barrie Knight and David Keoghan. We are hoping to complete the marathon in under four hours, whilst aiming for a fundraising target of £5,000. Cancer Research UK is a charity that is hugely important to me. My mum, Marie, died nine years ago from breast cancer and I believe that if she had been more aware of the warning signs she could still be here now."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)