THE London Marathon today (Sunday, October 2) is one of the most prestigious running events in the world and is the only British event of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Thousands of people run London every year — and as well as top elite runners, the event attracts people from all walks of life who run the marathon for charity.

Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see some of the Isle of Wight runners...

Among the charity runners from the Isle of Wight this year is Nick Dover from Binstead, who will raising money for CRY (Cardiac Risk for the Young)

He said: “Having suffered a cardiac arrest three years ago, at the age of 34, I felt the work this charity does in raising awareness of cardiac problems in young through their research and screening programmes was something I could really get behind.”

Isle of Wight County Press: The sight that will greet the runners as they finish. Photo: London Marathon.The sight that will greet the runners as they finish. Photo: London Marathon. (Image: London Marathon)

He had done two marathons prior to his cardiac arrest and has trained well for Sunday with the help of Vectis Academy.

You can sponsor him HERE via his JustGiving page.

  • Justin Olesinski from Cowes is running for Cure Parkinson’s,  which he chose because his father has Parkinson’s Disease.

He enjoys running twice a week because it’s “a great of keeping fit both for the mind and body.”

You can sponsor him HERE via his marathon fundraising page.

  • Dawn Garey, a teacher from Shanklin, is raising money for SSAFA, the armed forces charity.

She said: “My sister and brother-in-law are in the Navy and my son was in the RAF and is now transferring to the Navy. 

“SSAFA provides fantastic support for our military personnel, veterans and their families. I’ve learnt so much about SSAFA while fundraising. 

“Someone I worked with stayed in a SSAFA house when their son was in hospital. Another accessed their services and supported their whole family in starting up a new life. It’s very humbling to hear such stories.”

Sponsor her HERE via her marathon fundraising page.

  • Mark Grimes from Ryde has done three London Marathons and is raising money for the Wight Brainy Bunch.

It’s a charity he set up with his wife in 2016 following Mark’s diagnosis of a brain tumour in 2015.

He said: “Later that year I gained a position in the 2016 London Marathon running for the Brain Tumour Charity, 

“Unfortunately I collapsed at 23 miles that year. Following the marathon, the Brain Tumour Charity offered me another spot in the 2017 London Marathon to complete what I had started, I finished that marathon in 2hrs:59min:38sec. 

“That time of under three hours gained me an automatic place in the 2019 marathon and  I ran that in our own Wight Brainy Bunch vest. 

“This year I was fortunate enough to gain a place in the public ballot.”

Sponsor him HERE via the charity’s JustGiving page

Isle of Wight County Press: This year's runners have had to train through a scorching hot summer, as Justin Olesinski's picture proves. Photo: Justin Olesinski.This year's runners have had to train through a scorching hot summer, as Justin Olesinski's picture proves. Photo: Justin Olesinski. (Image: Justin Olesinski)

  • Wootton-based Terry Hardy got a ballot place and then just a few weeks ago, decided to raise money for Mountbatten.

It’s his first marathon and you can sponsor him him HERE via his Facebook Donate page.

  • Husband and wife team Glen and Ruth Jones, from East Cowes, are both running the London Marathon in aid of the NSPCC.

Glen is no stranger to marathons, having previously done a seven marathons in seven days challenge, and you can sponsor him HERE via his JustGiving page.

Ruth, who describes her marathon as a “once in a lifetime” experience, can be sponsored HERE via her JustGiving page.

  • Isle of Wight chef Paul Thorley, who runs Something Yummy, is raising money for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

Sponsor him HERE via his marathon fundraising page.

  • Stuart Peachey is running in aid of Cats Protection and chose the charity because his wife has worked with them for six years, volunteered for a further 13 years and currently runs the charity shop at the Isle of Wight adoption centre.

Sponsor him HERE via his JustGiving page.

 

WATCH: the official TCS London Marathon 2022 video

 

  • Jo Rees from St Helens is running in aid of Emsworth-based Planets cancer charity, which she chose because they supported her uncle, Mick Hallett, who lost his 17-year battle with cancer last year. 

Click HERE to visit Jo's JustGiving page and sponsor her.

  • Sarah Tyrell Jones is running it for Breast Cancer Now, as she is the Isle of Wight's community fundraiser for the charity - and she hopes to see Dr Henderson on the way round, as she is his patient!

READ MORE ABOUT DR HENDERSON'S LONDON MARATHON HERE

 

  • Lucy Ellis, 25, from Shanklin, will also be running the London Marathon today. She now lives in London at Southbank and has been training locally.

Are you inspired by these tales?

If so, why not enter the 2023 London Marathon ballot here! It's open until Friday, October 7.

Are you running the London Marathon for charity?

If so, we would love to hear your story! Simply click on the submissions box below to send photos and details to us!