Published on Wednesday 25 April 2012 16:00
CHARITY fundraisers from Morley have raised thousands of pounds for good causes by taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday.
Among the 38,000 runners pounding the streets of the capitol were Ed Balls MP, Dean Oakland of Tingley, Gemma and Lee Trainer of Foxton Gardens, Morley, and their friend Richard Miles of High Street.
Gemma and Lee are keen runners but Dean, 33, had never before run the distance and was hoping adrenaline would carry him across the line, while Mr Balls had to juggle training with a day job as the shadow chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr Balls became the first cabinet or opposition cabinet member to take part in the marathon, which he completed in five hours and 31 minutes.
The 45-year-old MP for Morley and Outwood said: ?The crowd was fabulous, the atmosphere was amazing and it was really, really hard. I had a good first 13 miles and a good last eight miles but the bit in the middle was really, really tough.
?I almost stopped and wondered if I could do it but the crowd keep you going as do the other racers.?
He added: ?We have raised ?56,000 so far for Whizz-Kidz and for Action for Stammering Children so the time?s ok, we raised lots of money and it?s just great to participate in this fabulous, massive sporting event.
?It just blows your mind. At every stage there are thousands of people cheering, willing you on.?
Sarah Oakland, Dean?s wife, said Dean had, ?done fine?, completing the race in four hours and 15 minutes at only the cost of a toenail.
Dean added: ?It was very hard and tiring, however, thinking of the sponsorship I had raised and the two great charities that I was running for (The Stroke Association and the Leeds Children?s Hospital) kept me going.
?My sponsorship has already exceeded ?1,200 and is probably pushing the ?1,400 figure.?
Gemma and Lee Trainer, both 30, completed the race in four hours 43 and three hours 58 while their friend Richard, 30, ran it in five hours and 12 minutes.
Gemma said: ?I found it quite difficult while Lee thought it was easier than he had expected, but it was amazing, the crowds are fantastic and really spur you on.?
Together they raised ?3,875 for VICTUS, visually Impaired Children Taking Action.
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