Charitable Islington runners are donning their jogging shorts tomorrow and tackling the London Marathon for a range of good causes.
From care homes looking after the elderly, to osteoporosis research and children with cancer, kind-hearted men and women will run the gruelling 26.2 miles on Sunday to raise cash for charities that matter to them.
One couple are even celebrating their first wedding anniversary by re-creating the ancient Greek endurance race.
Jessica, 29, and Danny Jacobs, 28, who live off Blackstock Road, Highbury, have already raised £12,123 for a care home which supports Jessica’s father.
She said: “Running the London Marathon was something that Danny and I have thought about for a while and once the wedding was over we had more time on our hands.
“We both like to have a focus and wanted to take on a new challenge for ourselves, whilst raising awareness of such a worthwhile charity.”
The pair have been pounding the pavement to the tune of 22 miles each week in preparation for the run.
Meanwhile mother and daughter team Jemima, 26, and Harriet Maunder-Taylor, 56, from Barnsbury, will tackle the course to raise more that £3,800 for the National Osteoporosis Society.
Jemima hopes to complete the course in about four hours whilst Harriet, who was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 1997 will walk for much of the 26 miles.
Jemima said: “I’ve always wanted to run the marathon. Being a Londoner I’ve watched it each year since I can remember.
“And there is no other cause closer to my heart. The work and research of the National Osteoporosis Society is really important and valuable, and I’d like to help as much as I can.”
Harriet added: “I am taking part to show that one can carry on with normal activities despite osteoporosis. I have to take more care than one would normally but this will be massive for me to help more people become aware of osteoporosis.”
Laura O’Connor, who works at Waitrose in Liverpool Road, Islington, has decided to run to benefit the Children with Cancer charity.
She said: The training’s going very well – it’s really hard though. It’s come around so quickly. My parents used to run a lot when I was younger – they did the marathon together a couple of times so that inspired me to have a go.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to do it in less than four hours.”
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