FOUR members of Saffron Walden Round Table will be going that extra mile to “make a difference” by participating in the London Marathon later this month.

James Cleaver, Jason Thomson, Dean Head and Ian Mercer have been training to get themselves into condition for the event on April 21.

The guys will be running for SPARKS, a children’s medical research charity. Jason said: “Sparks fund research into a number of conditions affecting babies, children and mums-to-be such as childhood cancers, cerebral palsy and Spina bifida as examples.

“Many of us are fathers and uncles and we understand just how devastating it can be to have an ill child in the family, so this makes this even more realistic for us and the pioneering work that Sparks are doing.”

Ian added: “For those who know us locally, we are normally supporting the local drinking facilities in town so this is a total cultural shock to our systems and a tough personal challenge.”

You can find out more about SPARKS on the website at sparks.org.uk.

To support the runners and the charity visit justgiving.com/TeamSwrt or text SWRT99 followed by the amount you are donating to 70070.

• ARE you running in the Virgin London Marathon this year? Let us know about it. E-mail editor@saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk or call 01799 513000.