London Marathon 2016: Shropshire runners ready for big challenge
[gallery] You don't have to be mad to take on the London Marathon – but it helps. Tens of thousands will take on the famous annual challenge on Sunday, including hundreds from across Shropshire and Mid Wales.
Some will be running in memory of a loved-one, hoping to raise thousands in sponsorship. Others will simply be taking on a personal challenge, hoping to beat their previous best time.
For one husband and wife team, the London Marathon marks the latest part of a fitness drive that has helped them lose 10 stones between them.
Dave and Clare Wilson, from Oswestry, found married life too comfortable piling on the pounds until Dave topped the scales at 21 stone.
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Three years ago they decided their lifestyle had to change and began walking and eating healthier food.
"The pounds just fell off and when we had both lost a bit of weight we started jogging then running and then entering 10k races," courier Dave said.
Last year, having shed seven stone, he ran the London Marathon for the first time, inspiring his wife who on Sunday will line up with him at the start.
She is raising funds for Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital's bone cancer unit while he is supporting Victa, a charity for children with sight problems.
They have raised more than £4,000 including £1,650 from a fundraising quiz night, raffle and auction in the Three Pigeons in Oswestry supported with local businesses.
Dave said: "We will be running the marathon together as a husband and wife team with #TeamWilson printed on both of our running vests. Training has been difficult for us both as its Clare's first marathon and I have had to battle through a hip injury caused from a fall training in bad weather."
Father and daughter Martin and Amy Richardson are raising money for The Firefighters' Charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital at Gobowen.
The pair, from Newport, held a charity car wash on Saturday at Newport fire station where Martin works. The 54-year-old said he is looking forward to the running the marathon again, but is currently fighting a number of injuries.
He said: "We are really looking forward to the event and we're just hoping to raise as much money as we can for the charities.
"I have run the London Marathon seven times before and this will be my third time running it with Amy."
Other Shropshire runners include Debbie Goodman, 52, of Little Wenlock, who is running for the Teenage Cancer Trust inspired by her son Jaymz, who is currently having treatment for leukaemia. Paul Richards, from Aston, Wellington, will be running the London Marathon in super hero costume.
