FORMER Warrington Wolves forward Gary Chambers is set to tackle the London Marathon.

The prop will take on a virtual version of the event, which will see runners tackle the event along their own routes due to social distancing measures, next month.

He will be running in order to raise funds for Reverse Rett, a charity he is an ambassador for.

Chambers – who made 210 appearances for the Wire over 11 seasons before retiring in 2000 – will be running alongside charity co-founder Andy Stevenson, whose daughter Beth and step-daughter Amber both suffer from rare neurological disorder Rett syndrome.

The Cumbrian, who also starred in Channel 4 series Educating Greater Manchester, said: "I am taking on my toughest challenge to date for Reverse Rett, the 40th London Marathon.

“I have the knees of my dad, so to run a marathon on them fills me with dread.

"Why do we do challenges?

"Well, my suffering will last only four, five or more likely six hours.

"When you compare this to the battles that Amber, Beth and everyone else living with Rett syndrome go through every second of every minute of every day, I think it's the least I can do."

Gary and Andy previously took on the Great Manchester Run in 2018 while pushing Amber along the route in her wheelchair.

Warrington Guardian:

Andy and Gary Chambers with Peter and Amber Dine during the 2018 Great Manchester Run

The latter's old Culcheth High School friend Carl Rawes will also be running the London Marathon in South Wales in aid of Reverse Rett.

Andy, formerly of Burtonwood but now living in Manchester, added: "Myself and Gary Chambers, in a moment of madness, decided to enter the 40th London Marathon on October 4.

"It's obviously virtual this year, and we are going to run from my house in Manchester along the canal to Lymm and back.

"I haven't run a step since I finished the last London Marathon in 2019, where I celebrated my 50th – I promised I'd never run again.

"Gary hates running and has never run further than a half marathon, which he did with me in Manchester when we pushed Amber in her wheelchair."

"Small charities like Reverse Rett have been hit hard during the crisis.

"Fundraising is almost non-existent, so this is a chance for us to put down a marker and hopefully inspire people to start raising money again.

"This will test us both to the limit so we hope to raise awareness – seeing as October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month – and raise some cash to keep the exciting work in Rett research moving forward."

To donate, click here.