Rugby star Gareth Thomas is to start the city's half marathon next month.

The Welsh legend will fire the starting gun for the 34th annual event, which begins in Madeira Drive, on Sunday, February 25.

He said: "I am delighted to be supporting the Brighton Half Marathon which raises vital funds for local HIV charity The Sussex Beacon, an organisation which provides specialist care and support for people living with HIV and their families.

"Brighton is an incredible city, I am really looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere on race day."

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Gareth played for Wales while also captaining both Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

In 2009, he became the first high profile sportsman in the world to come out as a gay man in professional sports.

After retiring, he used his fame to raise awareness of issues close to him and shared his mental health struggles in his award-winning autobiographical books Proud, released in 2014, and Stronger in 2021.

The Argus: Gareth Thomas CBE will be starting the half marathon this year

In 2019, he announced he had HIV. His  TV documentary HIV And Me aired shortly afterwards and he has since launched a nationwide Tackle HIV campaign to help others with prejudice surrounding HIV.

Thousands of runners will be pounding along the seafront during the half marathon. While general entry places are sold out, some charity places are still available.

The event will also feature a wheelchair race, a one-mile youth race which will be started by DJ Woody Cook, and a charity relay race.

As well as thousands of runners there will be hundreds of volunteers helping out with course marshalling, managing drink stations and handing out medals and goody bags.