'Keep on doing it!' Mr Motivator's pep talk to our runners in the Big Half, London's first official half marathon

Mr Motivator has given a special motivational talk to runners lining up to brave the Big Half to help hungry children as part of the Evening Standard's charity appeal.

The fitness legend sent the pep-talk by video message from his home in Jamaica in support of the 57 runners taking on the 13.1-mile half-marathon to help food surplus charity the Felix Project.

"Hey gang, it's me Mr Motivator coming all the way from Jamaica," he said. "You're involved with the Felix Project - you know, good food for good causes.

"Keep on doing what you're doing - you're a star. The journey is only going to be short and when you get to the end you're going to look back and you're gonna go 'wow, that was so easy'."

"This is the one time doing something for other people is going to benefit you tremendously. You're gonna feel so good, you're gonna look so good. Mr Motivator say keep on doing it!"

The Felix Project is the charity founded by Evening Standard chairman Justin Byam Shaw in memory of his son Felix and being supported by our Help a Hungry Child appeal.

It has won the backing of Sir Mo Farah and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who met with Team Felix runners on Friday to wish them good luck.

Mr Byam Shaw said: "Sir Mo Farah, the Mayor and now Mr Motivator. What more motivation could Team Felix need to get out in the snow!"

The Felix Project redistributes fresh, quality food from supermarkets and retailers that would otherwise be wasted to vulnerable people.

Money raised in the Standard's appeal will fund Felix's project to put market stalls stocked with free, fresh food into 120 London schools.

In total more than 15,000 runners will tackle the Big Half, a new half-marathon from the organisers of the London Marathon. The route will start by the Tower of London and go east to Canary Wharf before doubling back to Tower Bridge and finishing in Greenwich.

There is still time to back Team Felix on Sunday. Click here to donate.