Dorset runners put through their paces in London Marathon

This year’s marathon event saw a record-breaking fundraising effort by runners with more than £1bn raised for various causes.

Among the local entrants was Dan Hallett, 38, from Weymouth, who was one of 500 runners who completed the marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

He completed the marathon in 5 hours, 10 minutes and 29 seconds, raising nearly £2,000 for his charity.

He said: “Taking part in the London Marathon was a huge challenge and an incredible experience. The atmosphere on the day was brilliant and I am proud to have been part of the Heart Runners team for such an iconic event. Knowing I was running for a wonderful charity made me determined to succeed.

“It was fantastic to have everyone there cheering me on and to know that my sponsorship money will help the BHF raise funds for life saving research to bring new hope to the seven million people living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK.”

Keith Pullen, 61, from Weymouth, ran in aid of the charity Dementia Revolution.

He completed the marathon in 4 hours, 6 minutes and 51 seconds, raising around £2,000.

He said: “It was a fantastic weekend, I really enjoyed it. To be honest the conditions were the best conditions I have run in. It was going really well until two thirds of the way through when I started to struggle a bit, but you find a way. I chose the charity because my mother worked as a dementia carer and then developed dementia in her later years.”

Debbie Moore, 32 from Portland, ran in memory of Terry Clarke, a resident she cared for when she worked as a carer at Birch Way Care Home in Dorchester.

She ran the marathon in 4 hours, 46 minutes and 34 seconds, raising £3,279.42 for the Leonard Cheshire charity.

She said: “I brought and wore a blue Chelsea bracelet to remember Terry around the whole route which made me well up a few times remembering how he made me smile every time I was on shift.

“I completed it with a massive smile on my face, it was overwhelming with love on the whole course.”

“Not for one second was anyone alone, I felt strong the whole way around and absolutely wouldn’t change a thing.”

Melanie Parker, 38, from Axminster, ran the marathon in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare and in memory of her dad Christopher Denning who was treated at Joseph Weld Hospice.

She completed the marathon in 5 hours 40 minutes and 13 seconds, raising more than £750.

She said: “The crowds were phenomenal they gave all the runners a boost to keep going.

“I am really pleased with my time, I set out to run it in between five and six hours. I wanted to run for Weldmar to give something back. The women there were very supportive and helpful.”

Gareth Biddle, 39 from Dorchester, ran the marathon in aid of Wooden Spoon, the children’ charity of Rugby.

He completed the run in 3 hours 55 minutes and 12 seconds, raising more than £6,000.

He said: “I hoped to run it in around four hours, and I did it, which is absolutely brilliant. It was the best experience of my life. The support was fantastic, the chants from the crowds were deafening. It was utterly incredible.”

Rebecca Hughes, aged 37 from Portland, completed the race in five hours and 45 minutes.

She ran in aid of Weldmar Hospicecare and managed to raise more than £4,500.

She said: " London Marathon was an amazing experience. Everyone who has run the marathon before describes the spirit of London, I now know what they mean. Although I’m now tired, sore and stiff, if I could bottle the feelings that I have after completing it, I’d make a fortune! Would I do the London Marathon again? Yes in a heartbeat!

"Weldmar have been so supportive and encouraging with the training and fundraising. I was lucky enough to gain a golden bond place with Weldmar and had to raise a minimum of £1400, I reached this in seven weeks. The amount kept rising and I feel very humbled and grateful to people who have donated."