Rehman Chishti MP for Gillingham and Rainham looks set to be a part of history this April as 16 constituency leaders are signed on to race the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon.

With the current highest being nine MPs taking to the start line in Blackheath on race day – in 2014 – this year looks set to be a record-breaking one with the highest number of female MPs signed up, the first ever knighted Member of Parliament set to run in Sir Kevin Barron, and Hannah Bardell the first Scottish National Party runner.

Mr Chishti is new to the marathon, although he has taken part in many smaller races, and was part of a recent MPs breakfast at Portcullis House to allow the novices and experienced alike to share training stories, inspiring tales and get hints and tips from expert coach Martin Yelling.

With this year’s race exploring the theme of documenting everyone’s ‘Reason to Run’, Mr Chishti shared his own motivation and why it means so much to him.

“I lost a very close colleague – Mike O’Brien, the leading councillor for Medway – to cancer last year,” said the former special advisor to ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“He was a wonderful colleague who always stood by me before I became an MP and campaigned with me every day I was out. After seeing him, one of the fittest guys around, lose the battle against cancer I thought I had to do something to make a difference.

“And he said to me that if I could do something for him it would be to raise awareness for Cancer Research. They do so much to help people fight this horrible disease”

The Virgin Money London Marathon, which began in 1981, is one of just six Abbott World Marathon Majors and this year received a record 253,930 entrants for the just over 50,000 places available.

In 2016 the race celebrated its one millionth finisher, with the event attracting more than half a million spectators to cheer on the runners.

With personal goals varying from setting a personal best, to just making it to the finish line, Mr Chishti and his 15 fellow MPs have been pounding the pavement since the turn of the year to ensure they are in peak condition come April 23.

Despite having to balance a hectic work schedule with getting the miles in, Mr Chishti admitted things are going well as he prepares for the race.

“I’ve been doing a fair bit of running, I’ve joined two running to put me in the best possible position,” the Rainham Central councillor said.

“I enjoy running, I’ve always loved doing sports. I’ve done 12 half marathons and I love the competition so when they say the Secretary of State for Wales can do it in 3hrs30 well, you know what, I say bring it on.”