RUNNERS across the borough are getting set to support a number of worthwhile causes during this year’s London Marathon.

The 26.2 mile run around the nation’s capital is nothing new to Jane Pugh, secretary of Action Heart Running and Walking Club, who will be running her 16th London Marathon on Sunday, April 23, for the Dudley cardiac rehabilitation charity.

The 49-year-old, who runs a variety of distances and terrains regularly, said: “As an emergency nurse i have seen the support Action Heart have given patients who have a cardiac event.

“I am hoping raise as much money as possible for them again this year.”

At the other end of the scale, 36-year-old Kingswinford mum Isobel Monaghan (pictured below) is taking part in the race for the first time ever as she raises awareness of coeliac disease, a condition her five-year-old son Edward was diagnosed with 18 months ago.

Stourbridge News:

Isobel is also running to raise funds for Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with the serious autoimmune disease which is caused by intolerance to gluten.

She said: “This is my first marathon and training is going extremely well and I hope to complete it in five to five and half hours.

“I have nearly raised £500 to date which was my target and hope to exceed this figure come the big day.

“I am very happy to do my bit to raise awareness of coeliac disease by running the London Marathon. If it means that just one more person thinks that it's worth getting tested for coeliac disease as a result then that would be fantastic.”

To support Jane and donate to Action Heart visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jane-pugh1, or to help Isobel’s Coeliac UK cause visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/isobelmonaghan