Combat Stress thanks marathon participants

Charity Combat Stress has been reporting on the efforts on runners who supported it recently by taking part in the London Marathon.

In both this and the Brighton marathon, donations worth thousands have been gathered to help the charity, which has thanked both people who took part on its behalf and the people who supported participants at the events.

Donations are set to let the charity carry on giving specialist care to many UK Veterans.

According to Combat Stress, one London Marathon participant, Sally Orange was trying to break a record she already holds for Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Fruit (female).

She took part in the race wearing a Pink Lady apple outfit – but in the end didn't quite manage to set a new record.

All in all, a 19-strong team of runners took part in the April 13th London running event for Combat Stress.

Dean ‘Deano’ Penn, a member of this team, actually suffered an ankle injury halfway through the race. But he managed to get to the finish line – even though later on it was found that he had both fractures and ligament damage, the charity reports.

Participants made their way around a course that was over 26 miles long – and part of which went across Tower Bridge, one of the city's most famous landmarks.

The charity had a group of supporters at the ready at the 13th and 22nd miles of the course – which some 36,000 people ran overall.

The supporters encouraged the runners and provided fruit and sweets to refresh them.

More snacks, drinks and goody bags were provided to runners helping the charity by its staff at Horseguards Parade once the race had been completed.

Supporters were also on hand to support runners as part of the Brighton Marathon. which happened a short time before the London race. Some 13 people entered this event for Combat Stress.

More recently, Help For Heroes, another charity, gave word of a new appeal aiming to bring in cash to revamp its Colchester Help for Heroes Recover Centre garden.

It's looking to raise some £100,000 in an appeal involving two local papers.