Marathon efforts for brilliant causes

Fun runners returned to the London Marathon this weekend and there was plenty of South Holland interest.

• They included two teachers, Frances Crampton and Haidee Paul, of St John’s Primary School.

The pair got the children involved with their campaign before completing Sunday’s race.

So far Miss Paul has raised £2,500 for Marie curie and Mrs Crampton has raised £3,000 for Scope.

Haidee ran in 4 hours 19 first marathon and I ran 4 hours 28 which was 25 mins faster than last year

She said: “It was a truly super day.

“Many of St John’s staff came to support us.

“We had a fundraiser day on Friday where children learnt about the history of the London Marathon and whilst thinking about this term’s value of generosity, children learnt about the ways we can show this in many ways such as time and kindness and support for charities such as the London Marathon.”

• Two Spalding friends and husbands of staff at St John’s ran separately while raising thousands for charity.

Sean Compton of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue raised over ran £3,000 for Blood Cancer Charity an issue close to his heart after it affected family members and friends.

He completed the event in a time of 5hrs 20mins, just three mins and 33 second ahead of frind David Brown who raised £7.648 for the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

The pair had previously ran the virtual marathon last.

Sean’s wife Louise, said of her husband: “He had an amazing experience and smiled all the way round the course, taking selfies and fully taking in the atmosphere.

“David said it was a privilege to run in such an amazing event.”

• It was a yabba-dabba-do occasion for Rob Green to celebrate 20 years of being clear of cancer as he ran as Fred Flintstone.

The second time runner decided to dress up in costume as he ran for Children With Cancer after injuring himself doing the Great North Run three weeks ago.

“It was a lot harder as the wool material filled with water and weighed me down but the crowd was superb and got behind the Fred Flintstone costume,” said Rob who raised over £3,000.

“They were singing the theme tune etc. They really got me round along with seeing my charity at their cheering point.

“But the costume made the experience.”

• Ian Tomblin raised a fantastic £2,550 for The Tulip Suite at Johnson Hospital in memory of his mum Diane who was cared for there.

Ian, whose dad runs Tomblin’s Garage in Pinchbeck, clocked a time of 4hrs 19mins.

Girlfriend Hayley Mival said: “Ian is really pleased with both his time and the amount raised and very grateful to everyone who has supported him, through sponsorship, messages of encouragement and cheering him on the day.”

• Meanwhile after an injury hit year so far Shaun Turner opted to defer his place in this year’s London Marathon, but instead ran a 26.2 mile loop around Sutton St James raising money for Children with Cancer.

He took five hours and was boosted by running different laps with brother Phil, friends Nicolas Reims and John Cross and mum and dad David and Anne on their bikes for the last lap.

In all he raised £300.

“It was a more of a mental battle for the last six miles but the sun came out and helped,” he said.

To donate visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ and search for the runners by their names.