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Richard Hester is a familiar figure around Griffin Park. He can often be found selling the popular Brentford fanzine Thorne in the Side, which he edits with his brother Nick.

Later this month, however, Richard is swapping his Word Processor for his trainers and pounding the streets in the London Marathon which is taking place in the capital on 28 April. The popular Bees supporter from Ashford, Middlesex is raising funds for the Andy Scott Benefit Fund.

Andy Scott is one of the most popular ex-Bees from the recent past and had to retire from football a year ago after being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic disorder which restricts the efficient pumping of blood around the body due to a thickening of the heart muscle from inside. Andy's retirement from the game followed advice from doctors that further extreme physical exertion could endanger his life.

The Andy Scott Benefit Fund was formed by Brentford supporters last Summer with the aim of raising funds for Andy and his family, and to raise funds for C-R-Y Cardiac Risk in the Young.

C-R-Y promotes awareness of cardiac risk for young people and raises funds to donate vital medical equipment to doctors' surgeries and hospitals.

Previous fund-raising events have included pre-season opener between Brentford and Leyton Orient, two of Andy's former Clubs. An auction of football memorabilia; a Football Quiz Night organised by the Thorne in the Side fanzine; a Race Night. There are also plans later in the Spring for a Gala Dinner with speakers from the top of English football.

A mark of respect for Andy Scott within football can be seen by the messages which have flooded in from supporters from all Andy's former Clubs: Sutton Utd, Sheffield Utd, Brentford, Oxford and Leyton Orient, where Andy is now the Club's Youth Team Manager.

Speaking about the his effort, Richard Hester said: "I have run the marathon before, so I do have an idea of what I am letting myself in for, and I know it's going to hurt. Andy has always remained a great favourite with Brentford fans, and he is a popular figure who is always welcome at Griffin Park. Andy may not have reached the top of the game, but he has always been a model professional and it is a mark of the man that he has asked to split funds with C-R-Y. It's an honour to be doing my bit to help the cause".

If you would like to sponsor Richard Hester, in raising funds for the Andy Scott Benefit Fund, please email the Benefit Fund's Secretary, ”Paul Stedman; or telephone 07970 837 624; or by writing to Andy Scott Benefit Fund, Threaf House, 54 Wallingford Road, Uxbridge, Middx, UB8 2RW.