London Marathon: The Sussex runners taking on the 26.2 mile course
Three determined Sussex runners have shared their different reasons for taking part in the London Marathon.More than 56,000 people are expected to take on the 26.2 mile (42.2 km) course on Sunday.The route passes Cutty Sark and Canary Wharf before finishing on The Mall, close to Buckingham Palace.Becki Malloy, Bethany Wood and Jon Carter explain what motivates them to take on the challenge.
Becki Malloy
Becki Malloy, from Horsham, will be running the London Marathon for the National Brain Appeal. Her father was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at the age of 52 and she carries the same gene, which means she is very likely to develop the disease at a similar age.She said: "Running the London Marathon was on my bucket list so I took the crazy leap to do it."It was devastating when I found out what had happened to my dad but at the time I was quite naive, I thought it was an older person's disease."He couldn't remember me but he was still there."He father passed way last year.
Ms Malloy says she hopes the money raised will help University College London to find a cure and support people when a diagnosis is given.She has previously completed half marathons but said the training has been "a lot harder" than she thought it would be."I've chafed in places I never thought I would," she said. Ms Malloy said the training takes over "everything", adding: "I can't say I'll be running another one too soon afterwards."
Bethany Wood
Bethany Wood decided to run for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as she has the condition. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition, causing the body's organs fill up with mucus, often with the lungs being affected the most. She wants to show people with cystic fibrosis that "life can go on and you can still go and do amazing things".Ms Wood said: "It also affects your pancreas, so a large number of people with cystic fibrosis also have diabetes as they don't have insulin like the standard person."
The London Marathon will be Ms Wood's 10th marathon in just 10 weeks.The mother-of-two says it is part of a big legacy challenge she is undertaking."I think my body will be screaming at me by the London Marathon," she said."I can't wait to finish and get home and take my shoes off and have a glass of wine for the first time in 10 months. I also can't wait to run a 5k in my local park."This is her second London Marathon.The first time she completed it, she gave the medal to her eldest daughter.She says she will be giving this medal to her other daughter.
Jon Carter
Jon Carter is running to support his son, Ethan, who has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a rare congenital condition affecting joint mobility.He said the charity he is supporting - Whizz Kidz - has changed his family's life.He said: "My son has been a in a wheelchair since he was born. "He is an absolutely amazing character and so persevering, but I want to show him through hard work you can achieve more than you expect."The charity has provided his son with an electric wheelchair, which he is able to control himself, meaning he does not people to push him around anymore.
Mr Carter admitted that he "doesn't like running".He said: "I'm really pushing myself to do this."Audio books have helped me a lot through my long runs in training. "It's been hard work. I'll probably collapse when I have finished but we have planned to have a fish and chip dinner as a treat when we get home."
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