A former soldier who has lived in Saffron Walden for the past 25 years will take on the London Marathon this Sunday (April 24) in memory of his brother and a friend’s son.

Baz Colley, 47, who is now a prison officer at HMP Highpoint in Haverhill, will be running for two charities – Epilepsy and Sarcoma UK – and he is particularly hopeful of raising awareness of Sarcoma, which took the son of a friend, aged just 28.

Baz said: “I lost my brother 11 years ago and since then, I have applied every year for the marathon. I finally found out I got a ballot place in October.

“I want to raise awareness of Sarcoma, which is a rare bone and soft tissue cancer, and am hopeful of getting round the course in under five hours.”

Debbie Hare, of Howard Road, Saffron Walden, will also take on the gruelling 26.2-mile course in aid of BEARS (Basic Essex Accident Rescue Service).

This will be the first marathon for the 51-year-old cleaner and she says she will be nervous come Sunday.

She said: “I’m not nervous at the moment but I think I will be on the day. They are predicting snow, so it might be quite a cold day. I have been training with a friend who has done a few marathons and so I’m hopeful of getting round in under five hours.”

The Reporter wishes all the runners taking part in Sunday’s marathon good luck – Giles Abery, Lucinda Rhose, Captain Daniel Peters, Elliott Foster, Toril Bugge, Ruth Wathen, Kelly Dorrington and Matthew Edwards.