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Gravesend and Dartford: London Marathon round-up 2018

After taking part in the hottest London Marathon on record last week, the hard work didn't end there for local runners.

The athletes have been busy calculating how much they raised for charity, whilst one Vigo resident continues his mammoth fundraising mission.

Dartford’s Brian Hoadley ran in support of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

Brian Hoadley, 37, from Dartford who raised money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People
Brian Hoadley, 37, from Dartford who raised money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People

He said: "Running the London marathon is a whole lot more than 26.2 miles.

"It's an epic journey and an experience I will treasure forever.

"Type 1 diabetes adds an extra element to it all, but the heat on the day was the biggest challenge by far."

The 37-year-old completed the race in four hours, 13 minutes, raising £3,000.

Alexandria Broad-Surry, 23, from Greenhithe, who completed the marathon after losing a close friend to brain cancer
Alexandria Broad-Surry, 23, from Greenhithe, who completed the marathon after losing a close friend to brain cancer

Alexandria Broad-Surry, 23, of Greenhithe, raised more than £3,000 for Brain Tumour Research and finished with a time of five hours, 58 minutes.

She lost close friend, Darel Bryan, to brain cancer just over two years ago, and recently discovered that her father, Robert, also has the disease.

Other participants included Evelyn Dalton, who was forced to relearn how to walk and talk after suffering two strokes eight years ago.

The mother-of-four, from Gravesend, finished in six hours, 46 minutes, in support of the British Heart Foundation.

Steve Nash, 45, from Vigo, who ran to support of Stacey's Smiles
Steve Nash, 45, from Vigo, who ran to support of Stacey's Smiles

Steve Nash, who ran to support Gravesend-based charity, Stacey’s Smiles, completed the marathon in five hours, 30 minutes.

The 45-year-old, from Vigo, will now take on the famous ‘End to End’ 900-mile route, between the Scottish village of John O’Groats and Land’s End, Cornwall, to continue raising funds.

Mandeep Pawar, 41, of Gravesend, raised £2,600 for CLIC Sargent, a cancer charity for children, and completed the race in five hours, 59 minutes.

Mandeep Pawar, 41, from Gravesend, with daughter, Keira, 7, (left) and auntie, Bailey (right)
Mandeep Pawar, 41, from Gravesend, with daughter, Keira, 7, (left) and auntie, Bailey (right)

First-timer Olly Baker, 18, of New Ash Green, finished the race in five hours, eight minutes.

He raised more than £2,900 for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF)

Jess Green and Olly Baker, 18, from New Ash Green. Olly ran to raise money for Jess, who had a liver transplant at 10 months old
Jess Green and Olly Baker, 18, from New Ash Green. Olly ran to raise money for Jess, who had a liver transplant at 10 months old

He said: "It was an amazing experience, it was my first ever running event and I really enjoyed it despite the heat.

"It’s amazing how generous people have been with donations towards CLDF."

Gary Wright, who completed the race in five hours, 34 minutes, has generated £2,000 for Willow Ward, at Darent Valley Hospital.

His grandson, Tommy, has a congenital heart defect and is a regular patient there.

Gary Wright, with grandson Tommy, who ran to support the children's ward at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford
Gary Wright, with grandson Tommy, who ran to support the children's ward at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford

Other participants who raised money for the hospital include Ann Moyles, who runs for Dartford Harriers Athletic Club.

Ann, who completed the race in five hours and 33 minutes, has raised £1,400 to date to support the Valley Hospital Charity's Cancer Fighting Fund.

Joanne Wigginton, from Gravesend also donated £320 to the hospital after running in aid of Darent Valley Hospital and Macmillan.

Gary Wright's grandson Tommy, who suffers from a congenital heart defect, and was the reason behind Gary's fundraising
Gary Wright's grandson Tommy, who suffers from a congenital heart defect, and was the reason behind Gary's fundraising

Samantha Obee, founder of Body 1st Studios, Gravesend, raised £3,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The 30-year-old, who lives in Gravesend, is a sports therapist at the injury rehabilitation centre in Cross Lane West.

Her mum, Tracy, was diagnosed with MS two years ago, and Samantha has since been raising as much money as possible, in the hope a cure will be discovered.

Samantha Obee, 30, founder of Body 1st Studios, Gravesend
Samantha Obee, 30, founder of Body 1st Studios, Gravesend

Billy Oborne, 20, from Swanscombe, completed the race in six hours, to raise cash for Whizz-Kidz.

He has generated £3,000 for the charity, which will fund essential wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled children.

Paralympian athlete John Smith, from Meopham, also took part in the marathon after winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth games last week.

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