Marathon effort from village runners

Four people from Abbots Langley joined thousands of others on the streets of London last weekend in this year’s London Marathon.

Evergreen Ladies FC Manager Lee Parker ran the London Marathon for a third time, raising money to help more people with physical disabilities become involved in football.

Lee completed the feat for reasons close to his heart every time, the first time in 1995 in memory of his father, and the second time in 2010 in memory of his twins. Lee’s squad travelled to the capital to cheer him on.

Lee added: “A big thanks to all that donated but special thanks to Evergreen Ladies and J&S Funeral Services for their generous donations.”

To help Lee reach his £2,500 target, head over to www.virginmoneygiving.com/leeparker4

Also running were Karen Blunden and Justine Ware. The pair were running in aid of the Meningitis Foundation as Karen’s son Mitchell  died from meningitis at just 10 months old

She said: “For years I couldn’t even bear to hear the word meningitis without wanting to lay down and cry. Our lovely friend Donna did this last year for meningitis and gave us the nudge to do it. “

As AbbotsNews went to press, the pair had smashed their fundraising target of £3,000, raising a massive £6,282.33

To donate to Karen and Justine, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/karen-justine

Finally Helen Attwood joined the other runners in aid of Dementia UK after a family member was affected by the condition.

She easily surpassed her total of £2.500 raising a superb £5,639.96

An auction evening held at the Trowley Rise Club raised just under £3,000 while Helen, who is a tube driver for London Underground, also raised money by holding cake sales at work.

She said: “To do the London Marathon and have such support from London was tremendous.”

To donate to Helen, go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HelenAttwood3

A week before the London Marathon, Helen’s friend Abi Rudge took part in the Brighton Marathon for Dementia UK and raised £826.03.

To donate to Abi, go https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AbiRudge