THE tragic events in Boston on Monday have cast even more of a spotlight on the London Marathon.

But instead of giving in to the perpetrators, there is even more of a determination among runners to take to the start line and show the world that good will always conquer evil.

People across Oxfordshire are among those making final preparations for Sunday’s race.

Teachers, policemen and PhD students have been training for months to run the gruelling 26-mile course around the capital.

Reporter Pete Hughes caught up with just a handful of them to hear their stories.

Emma Johnson, 25, from Witney, is running to raise money for cancer charity Anthony Nolan, who helped her big sister find a bone marrow donor.

Charlotte Johnson, now 26, was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two.

She had been battling it until the age of 18, having rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, when she was told her last chance was to have a bone marrow transplant.

“It had got to the point where there was not much hope left,” said her younger sister, a marketing executive.

“Anthony Nolan helped us when it really mattered, to find a donor and save my sister’s life.”

Her sister now works for Oxford University, and although she has to take hormone replacements, life has improved.

Anthony Nolan made Emma Johnson its “runner of the week” and she warmed up by climbing Scafell Pike on Saturday.

Emma said she was undaunted by the bomb attacks at the Boston marathon on Monday.

She said: “It was a sporting event for people of all races and religions to come together for one cause, and to do something like that was horrendous.”

The organisers of the London Marathon have sent an email out to all participants to say that they will be stepping up security for the race.

Along with other runners, Miss Johnson will be wearing a black armband to show respect for those killed and hurt in Boston.

She added: “I want to show that this act will not deter us from raising money for so many good causes.”

To sponsor Miss Johnson, go to justgiving.com/johnsons-big-run

 

Oxford University student Nick Chan is gearing up to run the marathon dressed as a Womble.

Mr Chan, 26, who has applied to study for a DPhil in international relations at St Antony’s College, is hoping his novelty run will help him raise £2,000 for the Jesuit Missions charity.

Jesuit Missions supports the educational and humanitarian work of the British Jesuits.

He said: “Tackling the marathon as a Womble is certainly a daunting challenge – one that I am nervous about but looking forward to.”

Mr Chan has run the marathon twice before as a regular, but never in costume.

He has been training in the outfit by running through Christ Church Meadows, which has attracted a little attention, and one or two people getting their cameras out.

He added: “Wombles are an institution of the London Marathon and it is exciting to be part of this running tradition as a member of the Jesuit Missions team.”

 

An Abingdon dad is running to raise awareness of a rare neurological disorder, Angelman Syndrome (AS).

Ben Stagg, 37, from Sellwood Road, will be running the course for the first time inspired by his four-year-old son Woody, who has AS.

The pair are pictured above and father-of-three Ben is hoping to raise £5,000 for the Angelman Syndrome Support Education and Research Trust, Assert.

“Woody was 18 months old when he was first diagnosed and it was a massive shock to all the family,” said Mr Stagg, who works at Reed Elsevier in Kidlington.

“Woody can’t walk unaided at the moment, perhaps by the end of the marathon neither will I, but doing this is just a small way I can give something back to Assert as they help other families across the country.”

Angelman Syndrome is a chromosome disorder that causes severe learning difficulties. Those with the condition might also have seizures, limited mobility, little or no speech and disturbed sleep.

To support Mr Stagg, visit virginmoneygiving.com/BenStagg

 

Eleven members of the Didcot Runners are taking part in the London Marathon to celebrate the club’s 10th anniversary.

Between them, they are running for nine different charities.

Taking on the challenge are, left to right, Stuart Howes, Eileen Naughton, Rob Sharp, Paul Griffiths, Jane Manclark, Chris Birch, Julie Shand, John Scarborough and Kirsty Reade.

Ceri Davies and Mathew Browne are not pictured.

Mrs Shand, 46, who lives on the Ladygrove estate, said: “To have 11 members take part in the London Marathon is a fantastic achievement for such a small club. Training has gone well and most have been running 20-mile races.”

The runners’ chosen charities are listed at didcotrunners.co.uk

 

Rachel Wilmshurst, from Oxford, is running her first London Marathon for a charity which helped her cousin and her best friend.

Ms Wilmshurst, 26, from Arthray Road, who works as a university administrator at Oxford Brookes University, is hoping to raise £2,000 for the Epilepsy Society.

Her cousin Melissa, now 20, from Cumnor Hill, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 16.

“It was a tough time for her,” said Ms Wilmshurst. “Obviously that age is filled with the usual angst stuff. She wanted to learn to drive and go out with her friends, and all of that was made more difficult.

“But now a few years later, thanks to medication, she is at university and living her life as normal.”

Rachel’s best friend Lucy Phillips, 27, from Botley, has also been diagnosed with the condition.

Ms Wilmshurst has been training since January.

She hopes to run the 26 miles in just five hours and, having run the Oxford Half Marathon in October, she knows a little bit about the challenge ahead.

If you would like to sponsor Ms Wilmhurst, go to justgiving.com/RachelWilmshurst

 

Two Oxford University researchers who are working to find quicker ways to cure cancer have set themselves a marathon challenge.

Monica Olcina, 27, originally from Spain, and Cindy Korner, 30, from Germany, both students in the Department of Oncology, are running for Cancer Research UK.

Ms Korner said: “We are thrilled to be able to make our debut in such an amazing race – it is going to be unforgettable.

“We have both been running quite regularly for several years, but never more than 10K – this distance is huge.”

To sponsor them, go to justgiving.com/Monica-Cindy-Marathon