ONE hundred and thirty runners have signed up to support Havens Hospices in this year's London Marathon on Sunday, April 13.

The runners will aim to raise as much cash as possible to swell the coffers of Fair Havens, Westcliff, and Little Havens, Thundersley.

The youngest runner is 20 and the oldest is 81.

Event fundraiser Judy Grocott said: "Last year Havens Hospices raised £190,000 through the London Marathon and it forms a large part of the charity's income which relies heavily on events of this type.

"What we have found this year though is the amount of stories behind the runners and discovered what really spurs these people on to undertake such a huge challenge."

The events team has provided support for all the marathon runners including training sessions, physiotherapy nights, pasta lunches and advice from professional athletes.

The runners will be rewarded with a celebration barbecue after the event as the hospices say thank you for the hard work and dedication.

Among the runners at the party will be Richard Pope, 20, of Ailsa Road, Westcliff, who will drag himself away from studies in product design at Loughborough University.

He said: "My dad, Roger Pope, was an Essex county runner and my mum, Julie Samuels, is a district nurse and she works with people who use Fair Havens' services. My nan also used to volunteer in the Fair Havens kitchen, but I can't nurse like my mum so this is one way I can make a difference."