Welwyn Hatfield Runners in Flora London Marathon
CHARITIES in Times Territory will have received a welcome boost yesterday thanks to the kind-hearted souls who ran this year s Flora London Marathon. It was a record-breaking year for The Isabel Hospice, in Bridge Road East, WGC, which had an unprecedente
CHARITIES in Times Territory will have received a welcome boost yesterday thanks to the kind-hearted souls who ran this year's Flora London Marathon.
It was a record-breaking year for The Isabel Hospice, in Bridge Road East, WGC, which had an unprecedented 18 people running on its behalf, raising an estimated �30,000 in the process.
One of those runners was 72-year-old Dennis Draper, who was running in his 19th London Marathon - and his 157th marathon to date.
Mr Draper, of Longcroft Lane, WGC, completed the course in an impressive four hours and 36 minutes - raising around �900.
You may also want to watch:
He said: "I just tried to keep a steady pace, and I was pleased with my time.
"I've run marathons all over the world, but London is always a bit special."
Most Read
- 1 Hatfield curry house is hot stuff after being named nation’s best
- 2 Aldi eyeing new Hertfordshire store locations
- 3 The latest court results for Welwyn Hatfield and Potters Bar
- 4 Congratulations! See Sir Cliff Richard's The Great 80 Tour live in cinemas
- 5 Woman verbally abused and threatened at petrol station
- 6 Welwyn Garden City murder-suicide: Grief-stricken family release statement
- 7 A giant of a show is coming to Welwyn Garden City as Campus West panto returns with Jack & the Beanstalk
- 8 Letchworth paedophile jailed for sexual activity with a child
- 9 Everyone invited to Hatfield rail tragedy remembrance service
- 10 How was womanising Hatfield policeman allowed to work promoting female safety?
A further 28 people ran on Sunday in aid of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, a charity set up in memory of the late sports commentator by his widow, Jean.
Mrs Pickering, who lives in Welwyn, said the London Marathon had been vital to the success of the charity.
"It's kept the fund going for the past 18 years, it's been our mainstay," she said.
"We give every penny raised to our athletes, and we usually raise between �30,000 to �40,000.
"We seem to be on target for that again this year.
"It was a great day and I am so grateful for those that took part. It makes me feel quite humble."
Another runner was 22-year old Jade Bracey, who was running to raise money for the Children's Trust, the charity that helped her recover from a serious car accident in 2001.
"It was amazing, fantastic, I can't believe that I did it," said Jade, from Hitherway, WGC.
"The crowd were amazing; I lost count of how many people cheered me on. I felt very lucky to be running the marathon. I'm just lost for words.
