Virgin London Marathon

Would you like to run in the world-famous Virgin London Marathon?

Next year's marathon takes place on Sunday 22 April. If you'd like to run for Heart Research UK in 2012 and raise money to support pioneering research into heart disease please contact Viki on 0113 2347474 or email fundraising@heartresearch.org.uk

Here are some of the stories of the  fantastic people who took on this 26 mile challenge to support Heart Research UK in 2011.
 

Katherine and Beth Page
Katherine, 27,  and Beth, 24, both from Tooting, London, will be running the Virgin London Marathon in memory of their Dad, who sadly died last year, aged just 51 from a sudden heart attack.
Katherine says: “We are both running for Heart Research UK in tribute to our father, who we adored, and to raise money and awareness so hopefully other families won’t have to  suffer the pain of losing someone to heart disease.”

Bryan Connor and Michelle Riggs-Long

Bryan Connor, 56, and his fiancée  Michelle Riggs-Long, 38, from Crouch End, Haringey have set themselves the challenge of running the Virgin London Marathon together. The couple met at their local Virgin Active gym on a Sunday morning in April 2006. Shortly after meeting, Bryan suffered a heart attack whilst training on a rowing machine. Luckily Michelle was on hand to ring an ambulance and support him through the ordeal.

Bryan says: “We are so pleased to be running together for Heart Research UK and raising money and awareness for a cause that is so personal to us. Our experience has brought us closer together and it feels great to be giving something back to charity.”

Paula Hamill
Paula Hamill, 41, from Coalville, Leicestershire will be taking part on behalf of Heart Research UK after giving up smoking four years ago and becoming hooked on running.
Paula says: “It’s not yet 12 months since my almost-brother-in-law underwent life-saving, life-changing heart surgery. So, I’m thrilled to have place running for HRUK – it seems really fitting."
If you would like to read more about Paula’s progress over the next few weeks, please have a look at her entertaining blog: Little Miss Mileage Marathon Musings.