More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The London Marathon is being hosted for the 36th year this weekend - with tens of thousands of runners lining up at the start.
Runners, walkers and joggers are going to be out in force looking to get the best time possible.
Here are just a few of the stories from people and the charities around Kent being represented on the day.
Scroll down for Ben Rogers, who is completing his 365th marathon in a year today - but not in London
Peter Rider
Mr Rider is returning after he debuted at the marathon last year.
The 48-year-old is hoping to get across the finish line before the three hour and 10 minute mark.
He has chosen to run for Kent Association for the Blind which supports sight impaired people to live independent lives.
Mr Rider said: "My mother-in-law went blind a couple of years ago and it was very sudden.
"Before she died the charity helped renovate her home to install hand rails and talking clocks.
"I see running the marathon as giving something back to the charity. They've helped us so much to give something back is a great feeling."
Canterbury resident Emma Garcia will be running in memory of her friend who died while on holiday in Australia.
She's raising money for the Headway which looks after people who have suffered a head injury.
Miss Garcia's friend Amy Haskew died after the motorbike she was riding careered off a cliff while they were on holiday.
Now she is set to raise more than £3,000 for the support network.
Speaking about what the organisation does she said: "They're doing things like taking on extra nurses and home visits so they've been very close with all of their runners telling them where the money's going."
The 26-year-old is hoping to get in before the five hour mark.
Ray Johnson
Returning for his 17th London Marathon in a row, Ray is also running for the Kent Association for the Blind.
Mr Johnson, who has a job as an insurance broker, organises Folkestone Coastal 10K and is a member of the Folkestone Running Club.
He said: "I'm hoping to get done before four hours and 15 minutes.
"My best attempt was in 2002 with three hours and 23 minutes.
"I know a couple of people who've suffered from blindness but it's because it's a Kent-based charity that I've chosen it.
"I'm a keen runner and and I like to raise money and awareness for charities."
Emma Carlton
Homewood School pupil Emma Carlton, 17, is is running for Sense, a national charity which supports children and adults who are deafblind or have sensory impairments.
She has already smashed her fundraising target of £1,500, with more donations flowing in.
Miss Carlton said: “It will be my first ever marathon and I will be 18 the week before the marathon.
“As it is my first marathon my target is to complete it comfortably and enjoy it.
“It is a massive challenge but I am ready to take it on.
“I am running the London Marathon to help raise money for this amazing charity and to be able to help provide a better quality of life for those affected.”
Michael Harris
Michael Harris, from Gillingham, who is known affectionately as H to his friends, started volunteering with the Scouts in 2004.
He became leader of the 25th Gillingham group 12 years ago and is now running to raise money for them.
The 48-year-old has always enjoyed outdoor pursuits and found volunteering was an ideal opportunity to take part in a wide range of adventure activities.
He said: “Being able to take part in new activities and learn new skills is great fun but passing these skills on to young people and seeing them overcome personal challenges is the most rewarding experience.
"I’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country organising and taking part in activities, camps and events, from the Isle of Wight to Scotland, and from Dover to South Wales. I’ve even spent a week at the International Scout Centre in Kandersteg, Switzerland.
"Volunteering in Scouting has given me some of the best experiences and memories of my life."
Phil Sweatman
Marathon runners are raising funds in memory of teenager Ben Hammond.
Phil Sweatman has just returned from the Scottish Highlands where he joined Ben’s family for a Spring break and did a few training runs.
“The stunning scenery of the Highlands was inspirational and it was invigorating to train in a completely new place,” said Phil who is hoping to complete the London Marathon in less than four hours.
Ben died last July at the age of 15 from an undiagnosed heart condition and since the High Halden teenager’s death his family have worked tirelessly to support the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which screens youngsters for heart problems.
Phil, 45, a service manager for CB Motors in Tenterden, will be joined by graphic designer Nick Vincent, 42, will also run the London Marathon for the cause under the banner of Team Ben Hammond.
The runners has raised just over £4,500 so far and if they hit the £5,000 mark it will enable 100 children in the district to be screened for heart defects.
To support the Team Ben Hammond runners visit http://uk.virginmoney giving.com/PhilandNick
Liz Kallend
A 21-year-old nurse has overcome arthritis to train for the London Marathon and prove that the condition is no barrier to living life to the full.
Liz Kallend, of Swain Close, Strood, was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis when she was just 16, but has battled back to fitness thanks to the latest treatment and research.
Before the onset of the condition, she had enjoyed sports including netball which she played once a week, but then found herself comfined to her bed due to the pain.
Years later Miss Kallend, who will run the marathon in aid of Arthritis Research UK, is now pain free due to the help she has received from the NHS and the charity, and through taking part in clinical trials.
And even though she has never run a marathon before, Miss Kallend, who works as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, is aiming to complete the course in under five hours.
She said: “I have been training hard since Christmas and I aim to complete the course in less than five hours.
“This is my first time. My dad, Terry Kallend ran the marathon in 2014 for the same cause. I have done 5k runs and mud runs before but nothing like this distance.
“My boyfriend will be cheering me on and I have about 15 friends and family coming up to support me.
“It has been hard work training when you do shift work, but the training programme I’ve been following has been good.”
To sponsor her search for Elizabeth Kallend at www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com
Jay Holmes
A 30-year-old man who has beaten a life-threatening disease twice has completed one marathon and is gearing up for a second in just two weeks for charity.
Jay Holmes was 19 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and now he is doing all he can to raise awareness of male cancers and encourage men to check themselves.
The Leysdown resident had to undergo a single dose of chemotherapy as a precautionary measure and was soon able to put his ordeal behind him.
But, at the age of 22, he was told the cancer had returned.
Mr Holmes had further treatment which shrank the tumour to the size of a pinhead and the mass was subsequently deemed benign. He came out of remission two years ago.
Now he is raising money for the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign. He ran the Brighton Marathon on April 9 in five hours and four minutes and is training for the London Marathon on Sunday.
He has so far raised £1388.40 of his £5,000 target. To donate, visit tinyurl.com/Holmes5k
Rosie and Eve Davies
Woodchurch-sisters Rosie and Eve Davies have exceeded their collection goal for their London Marathon run in the name of Parkinson’s UK a week ahead of the race, but that doesn’t keep them from powering ahead.
The sisters originally set out to collect £4000 they have already collected more than £5000.
The money will go to Parkinson’s UK, a support and research charity for anyone living with or affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Rosie and Eve, originally from Woodchurch, decided to run the London Marathon in honor of their uncle who suffers from the disease. Eve, from Hythe, said that as a physiotherapist she sees the effect of the disease in her daily work.
The sisters started training in the autumn of last year and are brand-new to running marathons.
Eve said: “We started training in autumn last year and since Christmas we have been tapering off towards the big run.
“We go on lots of training runs together. We did our longest run of about 23 miles recently.”
Eve said the sisters were aiming for a time of under four and a half hours:
“I am feeling apprehensive but excited. The most we have run is a half marathon. The main thing is the charity but we want to get under 4 and a half hours.”
To support Rosie and Eve visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosieandeverunthelondonmarathon and register a donation.
Martin Salmon
A mayor is donning his trainers to run one final marathon during his term in office.
Cllr Martin Salmon, the mayor of Folkestone, is raising money for Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) at this weekend’s London Marathon.
During his time in office, he has run 11 half and 25 full marathons. Today, he will complete his 26th marathon – one for every mile of a event.
These challenges are all a part of promoting his mayoral theme of ‘Fun, Fit, Faithful Folkestone’.
Cllr Salmon said he had enjoyed running the marathons as it gave him the opportunity to see many different parts of Kent.
“I am delighted to be raising funds for a very worthwhile cause,” he said.
“I have run in so many lovely places in our diverse county and feel really fortunate to have been able to do this and see the beauty all around us.”
In December, Cllr Salmon led a team in rowing the distance between Folkestone and Calais, on rowing machines. This event raised £205.19 for the mayor’s nominated charities.
To sponsor the mayor for the London Marathon visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/folkestonemayor.
Donations are also accepted via cheques made payable to Kent Association for the Blind and sent to Mayor of Folkestone, Folkestone Town Council, Town Hall, 1-2 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, CT201DY.
Suzanne Halsey
Suzanne Halsey is going to run the London Marathon to raise money for the Wisdom Hospice.
The Wisdom Hospice, in Rochester, cared for Suzanne’s dad Derek in 2013 and she is since raising money for the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice.
She said: “My Dad came into the Hospice in October 2013 and spent his last few days there. You enter in a fog as you know what the outcome is going to be, but to have had the support and care of the staff for myself, Mum and sister, made that time more bearable.”
Suzanne wanted to give something back to the hospice and after taking little ponies to the hospice to make patients immerse themselves in the ponies, Suzanne was running the Brighton Marathon in 2014 and 2015.
She said: “I once told Dad I would run the London Marathon, so it is an exciting prospect to be able to do this and support the Hospice at the same time.”
She added: “It’s a great feeling that we can give something back to such a great cause.”
Chris Luckhurst
A window fitter who suffered a serious fall and had his leg amputated will realise a lifelong ambition to run the marathon with his daughter.
Chris Luckhurst, 59, from Kenardington, suffered the fall from a ladder in 2009, and suffered injuries including a broken back and shattered ankle.
Eventually he decided to get his leg amputated, as he was not able to return to work.
Now, thanks to his therapy at Crystal Palace, he has specialist running blades, and has been training with his daughter Natasha, 25.
The duo completed the Lydd Half Marathon in March, and a gearing up for the big race on Sunday.
They will be raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation, which supports children with life-threatening illnesses by granting them wishes to create memories for the children and their families.
To donate to their cause visit www.justgiving.com/teamluckhurst.
Robyn Bartram
Robyn Bartram, 32, from Woodchurch will be running to raise cash for Childhood First.
Mr Bartram, assistant director at a Childhood First residential home, is running his second-ever marathon for the company he works for.
He said: “I would like to complete it in under four hours and 30 minutes and I know because it is benefitting the children, that’s a huge motivational factor.”
To support Mr Bartram, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RBartram
Daniel Capon
A fireman from Wye will be running in his fifth London Marathon - and will tackle it in his fire brigade gear.
Daniel Capon says he will be running on home territory, as he has been part of the London Fire and Rescue Service for the past 16 years.
The 41-year-old now works as a watch manager at Lewisham fire station, and is looking to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The charity supports children with life-threatening illnesses, by granting them magical wishes to create memories for the children and their families to treasure.
Mr Capon added: “Running the London Marathon is a great achievement, however this is only a small challenge when you compare it to the challenges some children have to overcome when living with life-threatening illness.”
To donate to his cause or to find out more visit www.justgiving.com/DanielCapon2.
Paul Brasington
For Paul Brasington of Kennington it will be his second marathon in a fortnight – having successfully completed the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, April 9.
The 39-year-old is running both marathons for The Friends of the William Harvey Hospital.
Mr Brasington said: “I have been a keen runner for the last 10 years or so and the Brighton and London Marathons will be my fifth and sixth respectively.
“London may be glorified sightseeing as I expect to still be aching from Brighton!
“Running for me became a great way to keep fit when I became too old and slow to play football any more.
“There is a very good social side within the running ‘community’ and for an individual sport everyone is very supportive and encouraging of each other.”
Mr Brasington works for Morningstar, an investment management firm.
To sponsor him visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/paulbrasington
Nine runners for ellenor
Not one, not two, but nine runners are in the final stages of their training to tackle the London Marathon for hospice charity ellenor next weekend.
Sue Savin, Wayne Du Plessis, Faye Stapleton, Amy Savill, Tina Butler, Megan Prigmore, Kevin Denny, Maciej Kopec and Sagi Burton will all wear bright orange for the 26-mile course today.
Like many people undertaking a challenge, some of these runners have been inspired to take part by someone special. Sue Savin, from Erith, is running in memory of her mother, Linda Brooks, who was cared for by ellenor.
She said: “My mum devastatingly passed away from cancer in June 2015 and spent the final days of her life at ellenor Gravesend.
“The staff there were absolutely wonderful and took such great care of Mum.
“Even when she was no longer able to comprehend what was going on, they were gentle, tender and loving."
Marie Penny
A Darent Valley Hospital midwife is putting family pride at stake when she takes on the London Marathon.
Cedar Ward manager Marie Penny, 32, was inspired by her family to compete, as her parents are former marathon runners. Her mother, Glynis Penny, came third in the elite race in 1983.
Ms Penny, who has been a midwife for 10 years, is running for the maternity fund at Darent Valley and has raised more than £1,230 to date.
She said: “The midwives here do such an amazing job every day, regardless of how busy they are or how many challenges they face.
“They put a smile on their face and give the families the care they deserve.”
Ms Penny’s brother has also completed the London Marathon a few times, which drove her to put on her running shoes.
She said: “I can’t be the only Penny who hasn’t done it.
“I’m not set to finish it in a record-breaking time but I’m definitely planning to get round.”
Ms Penny said her training had gone well despite some minor foot injuries.
She is running for the maternity fund to provide more equipment to help new families.
Ms Penny is not the only member of staff running for hospital funds.
Clerical officer Lisa Black is also running the London Marathon and midwife Georgina Lennon ran the Brighton Marathon last Sunday.
Sally George, head of fundraising at Darent Valley, said: “We wish Marie, Lisa and Georgie the best of luck in their marathons.
“They have worked really hard putting in training and fundraising, all on top of the day job.”
Ben Rogers
One of the greatest marathon achievements today doesn't have London as a backdrop.
Ben Rogers is set to complete his 365th marathon after a monumental year of running.
After completing the 26.2-mile challenge last year, he got his trainers back on the following day and did it all again. Then the next day. And the next. Now he is preparing for number 365 at the end of a monumental year of running.
In total he will have completed an average of one a day – more than 9,500 miles in total – and all fitted around his everyday life.
The 46-year-old, of Whiffen Walk, East Malling, said: “It has been a difficult challenge but the running community is great and I’ve had such fantastic support.
“One thing you learn is even when things get tough, you just have to keep going.”
During the past year he has been plagued with injuries, from sore knees and shin splints to a trapped nerve which hampered him for two months.
But he says the worst experience was a treadmill marathon he completed at Larkfield Leisure Centre earlier this month, which Mr Rogers said was the toughest thing he had ever done.
The father-of-two was determined to do the challenge in memory of his stepfather Doug Chaffer, and has so far raised £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Pilgrims Hospice.
While it was hoped the finish line would be the London Marathon today, issues over his registration have meant he has not been given a place.
Instead will be setting off from the Malta Inn, at Allington Lock, at 9am, and is inviting supporters to join him in his final run to Tonbridge and back.
Mr Rogers said: “It was really upsetting when I found out I didn’t have a place but it is irrelevant where I finish. It is about the 365 days, not just one race.
“It’s a bit sad to be thinking it will all be over soon, but I am looking forward to a lie-in.”
To follow Mr Rogers, search for 365MarathonMan on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, or sponsor him at tinyurl.com/365marathon
Do you know of others from Kent running the marathon today? Give them a boost and say hi below.
