WORLD champion athlete Richard Whitehead is bringing an Olympic torch to Nottingham – to raise money for cancer charity Maggie's.

The public will be able to have their photograph taken with the iconic symbol in return for a £5 donation for the Nottingham cancer care centre.

Mr Whitehead, a congenital amputee who runs on prosthetic legs, will be talking about the countdown to the 2012 London Paralympics in Lowdham on March 30.

The 35-year-old is taking time out of his busy training schedule for the fundraising event at the village hall in Lowdham, where he grew up.

He is the current world record holder in the half-marathon and marathon. He also holds the record for the 200m, the event he will be competing in at the Paralympics.

His sponsors Lloyds TSB, who are also sponsoring the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, are lending him a torch for the night in the hope of raising a bumper sum for Maggie's.

He once raised £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by running a marathon in New York in memory of a friend, Simon Mellows, who died of cancer.

Mr Whitehead said: "For me, sport is not just about success. It's also about supporting people less fortunate. Hence the reason why I raised £8,000 for Macmillan when I first ran in New York.

"I wore Simon's name on my shirt when I ran it. I was running it in his name really.

"Charities like Maggie's are a great cause and I'm happy to support it. I enjoy supporting causes that are close to my heart to help them fulfil their own goals, whatever they are."

Proceeds from photographs, admission and a raffle will go to the centre, in the City Hospital grounds, which supports cancer patients and their families.

Since opening in November, the centre has introduced a full programme of workshops, relaxation classes and one-to-one appointments with a clinical psychologist.

The fundraising event has been organised by a group of ten women called Maggie's Motivators.

They were brought together by Angela Granfield, of Lowdham, when she appealed for knitters for two projects – to knit Christmas puddings and robins and Easter chicks – in support of Maggie's. They raised over £1,000.

She said: "Wanting a change from knitting, I thought it might be good to see if we could put on an event using someone in the public eye.

"Richard sprang to mind, with 2012 being the Olympic year it seemed an ideal opportunity not to be missed.

"We're thrilled that Richard has found time in his training schedule to help Maggie's."

Tickets for an Evening with Richard Whitehead are £10 (concessions £8) from The Bookcase, Main Street, Lowdham, telephone 0115 9664143. Doors open at 7pm.