RUNNERS from the Saffron Walden Reporter area are gearing up for this year s Flora London Marathon on Sunday (April 26). The 26.2-mile test of endurance will see thousands of people pound the streets of the capital looking to raise cash for good causes. W

RUNNERS from the Saffron Walden Reporter area are gearing up for this year's Flora London Marathon on Sunday (April 26).

The 26.2-mile test of endurance will see thousands of people pound the streets of the capital looking to raise cash for good causes.

We round up some of those from the area taking part and would like to wish all of our runners good luck!

A SOLDIER from the Carver Barracks, Wimbish, is putting his best foot forward to help raise awareness of the rare condition which could have killed his pregnant wife.

Major Ed Robinson, of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD), was serving in Iraq in January 2008 when he heard that his wife Abi had suffered a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy - a condition caused when a fertilised egg implants outside of the womb.

Now the 37-year-old will run in the gruelling event on Sunday to help support The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.

"Abi was 12 weeks pregnant before the symptoms kicked in and she managed to get herself to hospital - prior to this we didn't even know she was pregnant!" said Major Robinson.

"Although I was in Iraq at the time, the services managed to get me to her bedside some 19 hours later, just as she came round following surgery.

"What followed was extremely difficult. We tried to understand, reason, make sense and fathom why us?

"During this difficult time both Abi and I used the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust as a source of information. Abi made contact with many other women in similar positions and drew some strength from this by knowing that she was, alas, very far from alone.

"For me the Trust provided an insight to what had happened and indeed what it meant for the future. Without this we would have been very much left in the dark and we are eternally grateful to the Trust."

Major Robinson and his wife, who have a three-year-old daughter, continue to draw support from the Trust, especially after Abi miscarried in June 2008. It was around this time that they decided they should try to help others in a similar situation.

Support manager for the Trust, Izzie Oakley, said: "The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, like many specialist charities, relies entirely on donations. And it's only through people like Ed that we are able to continue to deliver the information, education and support that our service users ask us for."

To support Ed visit his webpage at https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/ed1972. For more information about ectopic pregnancies visit www.ectopic.org.uk

A LUNCHTIME supervisor at Saffron Walden Nursery School will be donning her running trainers to raise cash for disabled athletes.

Bonny White's chosen charity, Disability Sport Events, organise regional, national and international championships in a variety of sports.

Her target is �1500 but would love to go beyond that.

Bonny said: "I have always admired the achievements of disabled athletes. My son is severely disabled and the older he gets the more I understand what an important role sport plays in his life."

You can sponsor Bonny on-line at http://www.justgiving.com/bonnywhite2

COMPETING in his 16th London Marathon, long-distance runner John Tyszkiewicz is raising money for the accident and emergency doctor service Medics.

Fresh from a gruelling 150-mile ultra-marathon across Lebanon, Mr Tyszkiewicz said: "Please do not be put off sponsoring me because this is 'only' a marathon - it's not an ultra, I know, but it's a different race that will require a different pace!

"Medics provide a superb immediate response service along the M11 corridor and have saved countless lives over the years."

Sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/JT16

HUSBAND and wife team Amanda and Edward Wells will be looking to raise vital funds for Children with Leukaemia.

The first-time marathon runners, both 28 and from Arkesden, have spent months preparing for the big day and will be joining the popular Mr Men and Little Miss Team.

They are looking to raise �3000 to help children affected by the UK's most common form of childhood cancer.

Amanda said: "We're running with two friends and the charity is close to one of their hearts. She has been affected by it personally."

Each year, around 500 children in the UK are diagnosed with leukemia. Although survival rates have steadily improved in recent years, about 100 children die from the devastating disease.

Children with Leukaemia is Britain's leading national charity dedicated to the conquest of childhood leukaemia through pioneering research, new treatment and support of leukaemic children and their families.

You can sponsor Amanda by visiting the website www.bmycharity.com/amandawells and Edward at www.bmycharity.com/edwells

ARE you taking part in the 2009 Flora London Marathon on Sunday? E-mail us your race photos and finishing positions to editor.saffronwalden-reporter@archant.co.uk