BRAVE runners across the county will take on the London Marathon tomorrow.

Among them are Kerrie and Becca Best, friends from Droitwich who happen to share the same surname, who are teaming up to raise money for the Children and Young People’s Services of two sexual violence charities, West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC) and Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC).

Matt Nicholls, 42, from Worcester, who teaches at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College will raise money for Children with Cancer. His mother, Cathy, overcame bowel cancer, and his two uncles have also been affected by cancer.

Soldier Wayne Smith, 34, will run the marathon for a charity that will be making Ronkswood seven-year-old Lily-Mai's dream of meeting TV character Mr Tumble come true.

Lily-Mai, who has terminal cancer, is the daughter of Wayne's partner, Liz, and he is taking part in the 26.2-mile race to raise £2,000 for Make-a-Wish.

Sam Charlwood, from Droitwich, who suffered from depression, wants to raise £500 for MIND – The Mental Health Charity.

Having lost two-and-a-half stone through Weight Watchers, she started running four years ago, enrolling on Droitwich Athletics Club’s annual Couch to 5k programme.

Ric Cipriani, 57, who works for Southco Manufacturing in Worcester, has run the London Marathon each year since 2015 for charity.

He has previously raised over £8,000 for national charity Heart Research UK and is hoping to reach £10,000 by running his fourth consecutive marathon.

Mum-of-two Louise Hird, 38, from Droitwich Spa, said: "I'm running because I am 10 years clear of cancer, having been diagnosed at age 28 and 36 weeks pregnant."

She is running for the Grace Kelly Ladybird Trust "because dealing with cancer as an adult is bad enough, but children should not have to suffer".