TWO friends from Mudeford who met through their running group will be taking on the London Marathon today.

Debbie Wilson and Val Dennis, who will both turn 50 on July 19 this year, are covering the 26.2mile circuit for Macmillan Caring Locally, which supports patients in the Macmillan Unit based at Christchurch Hospital.

Check out our Team Dorset who are taking part in the London Marathon today

Debbie says that the two of them met after joining New Forest Runners and later realised that they had lots in common, including living a mile apart from one-another, enjoying the same music, and sharing a wish to raise money for the charity.

She said: “I've done the London Marathon three times before for Macmillan Caring Locally, which I chose because my mum, Valerie, died aged 48 with bowel cancer, and my father, Terry, from bowel cancer, along with three other close friends.

“I got into running after I moved from London to Christchurch five years ago and wanted to see the beaches, the views across Dorset and the forests. A lady asked me one day if I had considered joining and running group and it has gone on from there.”

Debbie says that she has also taken part in New Orleans, Brighton, and the first ever Bournemouth Marathon Festival. Later this year, she hopes to run the Savannah Marathon and then the Walt Disney Marathon in January 2016.

“I'm not a good runner, I just enjoy getting out and about, and when I do a marathon, I like to chat to others to see why they are doing it, and also to take in the sights as I go.

“We live in a beautiful area, with the seaside and the countryside, and so I just like to make the most of it.”

For more information, go to Justgiving.com/Deborah-wilson4 or Justgiving.com/val-dennis