Meet the London Marathon 2024 runners of the Slough and Windsor area

Runners taking part in the TCS London Marathon are limbering up for the big race on Sunday. We spoke to some of the entrants from our area about their preparations for the event, their motivation and who they are raising funds for.

Team Longster

Team Longster, from Windsor, are taking on the 26.2 mile challenge in memory of husband and father Graham who took his own life in October 2021.

Mum Lucinda, 54, and twin daughters Amy and Roma, 23, will run together in Graham’s memory, raising funds for the Samaritans, the London Marathon Charity of the Year.

The trio state that sports fan Graham took part in all sorts of competitions, races and tournaments over the years and that he was ‘at his happiest’ when competing.

This tribute run is the second of its kind for the family who also ran the Manchester Marathon in 2022.

“Our goal is to exceed our previous fundraising efforts and make a meaningful impact,” they said of their mission to raise money in support the Samaritans’ work.

Despite his own ill-health, Graham trained to become a Samaritans volunteer.

To support Team Longster go to: www.tinyurl.com/4686dy5s 

Hilton Lindo

Inspired by his wife Jyotika’s battle with Multiple Sclerosis, Burnham jogger Hilton Lindo is running in aid MS-UK.

Jyotika, a former director of Burnham Community Association, was diagnosed with the disease 20 years ago just six months after the couple’s wedding.

Hilton said he has shown ‘unwavering dedication’ when sticking to his ‘relentless training’ schedule undertaken in all types of weather to honour the courageous way Jyotika approaches each day.

Her condition has progressed over the years from ‘relapsing remitting’ to ‘secondary progressive’ and she now permanently relies on a wheelchair.

Hilton has seen his JustGiving target burst past the £5,000 originally set.

This is the second time Hilton has run the London Marathon.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hiltonlindo24 

Will Kelly

Ascot dad Will Kelly will be running for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-servicemen and women.

Will chose the charity as his brother serves in the Army with the Royal Duke of Lancaster Regiment and ‘therefore it was pertinent to me that I would run for a military charity, to honour those who sacrifice so much for us all’.

Earlier this month, the Express reported on the efforts of his daughters Poppy, six, and Mollie, nine, who organised a cake sale to support his fundraising push.

Visit www.justgiving.com/page/will-kelly-london2024-blind-veterans-uk to view Will’s fundraising page.

Mark George

Mark George, 41, from Slough, found solace in exercise after hitting a low place after a difficult separation from his family home and children.

“I couldn't sleep, I was struggling with work and at my worst had some very dark thoughts,” he said.

He began walking very long distances and ‘fell in love’ with it, meeting new people along the way.

This progressed to running. Mark got involved in the Maverick Run Project, a free running community operated as multiple local groups up and down the country.

His latest challenge is the London Marathon, but he has much more planned.

“Running is now a massive part of my life and social life and I have some really big races this year, not just London,” he said.