RUNNERS who have waited 18 months to take on the London Marathon are at last nearing their moment to shine. 

This Sunday will see around 50,000 people pound over 26.2 miles of the capital’s streets for good causes. The public marathon should have taken place in April 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

Organisers have also invited another 50,000 runners to participate virtually by running 26.2 miles on the course of their choice within 24 hours this Sunday.

Ryan Seymour, 35, from Colchester, will be running the London Marathon to raise cash for Crohns and Colitis UK.

He said: “I have chosen this charity as it is very close to my heart, as my dad, Brian Seymour, suffers with ulcerative colitis having first being diagnosed with it back in 1990, and he has had to take medication everyday since he was diagnosed to control this invisible illness.He has never let it hold him back and has always kept himself fit, and he has inspired me all through my life.”

Ryan ran the London Marathon in 2011 and ten years on wants to complete it more comfortably than his previous attempt.

Sponsor Ryan at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ryan-Seymour86?utm_source=facebook.

Tony Lee, 50, from Colchester, is running the virtual event in his home town to raise money for the FaNs Network, which supports care home residents and is responsible for the Wishing Washing Line.

This will be Tony’s first marathon since he turned 18.

Sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/team/teamtony50.

Colin Horwood from Colchester only started running in May 2020 and is set to run a virtual marathon for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, a charity close to his heart as he has Ulcerative Colitis. Sponsor Colin at bit.ly/3EO2o5H.

Catherine Johnson’s virtual marathon in her hometown of Colchester will be especially poignant as she will be running in memory of her brother, Andrew Hornby, who died in a cycling accident in Norfolk earlier this year. Sponsor Catherine at bit.ly/3EXw1lc.

Brian Smith, 55, and from West Mersea, will be running in London in memory of his mum and to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Sponsor Brian at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BrianSmith92.

Sadie Bradfield, 42, and from Little Clacton, is running for the Robin Cancer Trust after she was inspired by a meeting with one of the charity’s volunteers.

Sponsor Sadie at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sadie-moore3.

Val Haynes, 57, of Colchester, will be a Guide Runner for a visually-impaired runner on the London course. She Val, 57, only had her spot confirmed less than three weeks ago.

Staff at Abbey Field Medical Centre in Colchester will be running laps of nearby Abbey Field this Sunday to complete their virtual marathon.

The team includes GP and dad-of-two Allan Smith from Colchester.

He chose to support St Helena Hospice because of the “fantastic” work it does to help patients who have reached the end of their life to die with dignity in their preferred location, and for the support they offer to their wider family.

Sponsor Allan at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abbeyfieldmarathon.

Nurse practitioner Lianne Belcher is also running for St Helena Hospice and in memory of her father-in-law who recently died of cancer.

Sponsor Lianne at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lianne-Belcher.

Practice nurse Clare Webb will be running for a friend’s two-year-old daughter who is fighting aggressive brain cancer. The mum-of-two said: “I want to raise money to help towards her treatment or to spend on family time.” Sponsor Clare at bit.ly/2Wgpq3H.

Medical secretary Sue Foley, also working at Abbey Field Medical Centre, and from Colchester, will be running for St Helena Hospice. Sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abbeyfieldmarathon.

Colchester Hospital colleagues Tammy Aristodimou, 48, and Emma Madden, 22, will be running virtually for Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity.

Sponsor them at bit.ly/3zEkZNz.

On-call firefighter Jamie Corcoran, 32, from Tollesbury, will be running in London to raise money for Ella’s, an organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and exploitation.

To support Jamie’s fundraiser go to justgiving.com/fundraising/James-Corcoran9.

Jenny Kaye, 39, from Colchester, is also running in London in aid of St Helena Hospice and in memory of her dad, Graham Rayne, her teaching mentor Anne Taylor and fellow runner Gemma Edgar.

Sponsor Jenny at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jenkaye.

Rupert Mullis, 25, and brother Freddie Mullis, 26, from Colchester, will be running the London Marathon together in honour of their late grandfather, Cecil Minter, and to raise money for prostate, testicular and penile cancer charity, Orchid.

Sponsor them at bit.ly/3irNjxp.

Linda Cole is running in London to raise money for Kidney Research UK and in memory of her mum, Comfort, who after four years of battling kidney disease passed away last month. Sponsor Linda at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=19924_8564729_85790&pageUrl=1.

Helen Wilson, 39, is running on behalf of St Helena Hospice who cared for her dad before he passed away.

Sponsor Helen at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Wilson76.