AROUND 36,000 people will be pounding the streets of the nation’s capital on Sunday for the 33rd Virgin London Marathon.

Among them will be around 30 runners from Team Dorset who will be hoping to complete the 26.2-mile race.

A period of silence will be held before the start of the elite men’s race and the mass start in memory of those who lost their lives in Boston.

Clare Julyan from Merley said although she had been shaken by the news of the bomb blasts she was now looking forward to the day.

“I’m running for a good cause so it will be worth it.”

Clare is running with her friend Natalie Bates from Bournemouth to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust which helps people with blood cancer.

Clare added: “I’ve always watched the London Marathon on TV and thought it was something I would love to do.

“I turned 40 so I wanted to do something to make it a special year.”

Clare is a seasoned blood donor having given more than 30 pints of blood since her 21st birthday: “My husband’s auntie died of leukaemia so I felt it was a worthy cause.”

To sponsor Clare, visit virginmoneygiving.com/clarejulyan

James Stockton, a 38-year-old computer engineer from Kinson, who is running in aid of the Lewis Manning Hospice in Poole, said he was raring to go too.

“I’ve never run any race before but I’ve often watched it on TV and I thought I could do it! I’ve tried to get a place twice before but it was third-time lucky. I’m running for Lewis Manning because they took care of my gran who had cancer.”

To sponsor James, visit: virginmoneygiving/jamesstockton

Captain Phabulous
EVERYONE loves a superhero – at least that’s the hope of Brian Knight who wants to raise as much money as possible for two Dorset charities by turning into his alter ego of Captain Phabulous.

Brian, a veteran of 11 marathons, will run the route in a red cape and his lucky beer can hat.

He said: “I don’t have any beer in the cans. They are just there to remind me of the drink I’ll have at the end of the race. I’ll certainly need it. You only ever ache in two places after a marathon – your top half and your bottom half!”

Captain Phabulous is named after the Poole and District Phab Club, which promotes the social integration of physically disabled and able-bodied people. Brian has been chairman since 1995.

Brian will also be raising funds for Julia’s House which is the nominated charity of Colten Care’s Avon Cliff nursing home where he works.

Brian, who lives in Poole with his wife Debbie, raised £4,500 in his last London marathon in 2010 and said he hopes to do even better this year. To sponsor Brian, call 01202 789998 or email avoncliff@coltencare.co.uk

Richard Wade
AIRLINE pilot Richard Wade, 45, is running his first marathon in support of Heart UK, the cholesterol charity.

He said: “Three years ago I couldn’t run half a mile. I’d to sit in front of the TV and eat a packet of chocolate fingers and not think about it. Until one day I went to the doctor, and being someone I had known most of my life, he said: ‘Richard you’re looking fat!’ It changed how I saw myself. I started running and began to enjoy it.”

To sponsor Richard, visit: virginmoneygiving.com/RichardWade

Briony Wood
DENTIST Briony Wood of Wimborne Dental Health Practice is raising funds for the Mouth Cancer Foundation Charity.

She said: “Mouth cancer kills one person every three hours in the UK because of late detection and the mortality rate is just over 50 per cent. Training for the marathon has been very tough and has taken up a good deal of my time, but as a dentist I wanted to do something worthwhile for the charity.”

To contribute to Briony’s efforts, visit: virginmoneygiving.com/brionywood

Laura Vincent
LAURA Vincent, 28 from Moordown works at Harewood College in Bournemouth. She is running her first marathon for Action for Children.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to do a marathon and when I did the Great South Run I felt I was ready for the next step up.

“I’ve chosen to run for Action for Children as it’s a charity close to my heart. They do a lot of work with some of the most vulnerable children at our school.”

To sponsor Laura visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/lauravincent

Helen Young
BOURNEMOUTH woman Helen Young will be running in memory of her brother Kevin, who died at the age of 28, and to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat.

Kevin had attended Southampton Hospital throughout his life and had a valve replacement operation in 2006. He died in September 2008 from a blood clot.

After his death, Helen joined a running group and completed the Great South Run to raise money for Wessex Heartbeat. She found running a good way of channelling her grief and has subsequently completed the Bournemouth Bay, New Forest and John Austin half-marathons, along with the Southbourne and Gosport 10ks.

To sponsor Helen visit: justgiving.com/helenyoungmarathon

Joel Burns
FATHER of twins Joel Burns, 23, of Poole, is taking part in his first marathon for Kidney Research UK – a cause close to his heart.

For his young son Finlay, left, who will be three next week, desperately needs a kidney transplant. Finlay was born with multiple health conditions including chronic renal failure.

He said: “I thought that the marathon is one of the hardest things I could do, but it’s nothing compared to what Finlay has to face. It certainly has given me the right motivation to get on with my training. I have already done half a marathon.”

To sponsor Joel visit: kidney researchukevents.org/joelsmarathon

Emma Egging
Red Arrows widow Emma Egging is taking part again for The Jon Egging Trust which supports underprivileged young people.

The trust was set up in honour of husband Jon, who died in 2011 whilst completing an air display at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Emma said: “I am running the Marathon again this year and would love to make all the long runs and hard work worthwhile by raising £2,500 for Jon’s Trust. I am also determined to achieve a personal best of under 4hrs – requiring me to knock 22 minutes off my previous time… watch this space!”

To sponsor Emma visit: just giving.com/Emma-Egging

Veronica Stone
SEMI-RETIRED Veronica Stone is nearly 70 and will be running her 16th London Marathon for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a national charity that grants the once-in-a-lifetime wishes of seriously and terminally ill children across the UK.

Veronica, who lives in Bournemouth, said: “The work that Starlight does to bring entertainment and distraction to seriously and terminally ill children is wonderful and I am really thrilled to be supporting it.”

With 93p of every pound raised going directly to the cause, the money that Veronica raises really will make a difference to children in Dorset and across the UK.

Veronica says training is going well: “The thought of helping Starlight to brighten the lives of very sick children will be enough to get me round the course.”

Support Veronica at: starlight.org.uk or call 020 7262 2881.