The ballots are closed and the runners have been announced!
We are pleased to announce that we have confirmed our places for the London Marathon 2020.
The 2020 London Marathon is a very special year as funds raised for various charities by runners since the event started in 1981 will reach £1billion at this years race.
Our final runners are (drum roll please): Claire, Emma, Jemma, Leah and Megan, #GirlPower! We are so lucky to have so many local heroes committed to representing Help & Care as their charity of choice at the Marathon.
We got together with our runners to find out a little bit more about their motivations and hopes for running in 2020, read their stories below.
Meet marathon runner Claire
I enjoy the endurance, I enjoy running and I just thought 'it's an iconic race', after doing the Bournemouth Marathon I thought this is the one I would really like to tackle.
It's a serious bucket list thing to have done in a lifetime really - to have achieved something as iconic as that. The fundraising is something I've never done before so I'm enjoying the challenge of what comes with that... It's pushing me to go out there and do those sorts of things and get back in touch with people, so it's been a really positive thing for me.
Meet marathon runner Emma
I've always wanted to do the London Marathon. I only really got into running about 2 years ago. I did the Bournemouth Marathon last year, then I did Brighton and I just wanted to do London. I knew it was the 40th anniversary too so I thought it would be a cool year to do it.
I've made so many friends through joining running groups so for me it's quite a social thing, but at the same time it's obviously a massive personal experience too.
Meet marathon runner Jemma
I decided to run the London Marathon in 2020 as it's their 40th anniversary and it's such an iconic race. As soon as I hear that theme tune start on the TV I get goosebumps.
Next year I'm attempting my biggest running challenge to date: 12 marathons in 12 months! There was no way that I would ever take on that challenge without including London as part of the 12. It truly means the world to me to be able to take part in the most famous marathon in the world!
Meet marathon runner Leah
My sister, Megan does a lot of running and I've recently got into it. She said she was thinking about doing the marathon and I thought it would be quite a good idea. With my dad (Mark Sharman) creating Help & Care, we've grown up with it. So we thought if we're going to do it, then Help & Care is the obvious choice who we would want to do it for.
I don't think there's anything quite like it really is there? I think I'm doing it for that feeling at the end- pure joy that it's done. I'll be bawling, we'll get to the end and mum & dad will both be crying, that will set me off.
Meet marathon runner Megan
I watched the TV coverage of the last marathon and I actually cried at the end when I was seeing people crossing. I got quite emotional. Then I was watching lots of Youtube videos; I've been running for a while and I thought I wanted a new challenge. I always knew through dad's work that he would love it if we did it, so it tied in well.
I think it will make lots of people proud and it's nice to do it with my sister Leah, something we've done together.
To support our 2020 London Marathon runners on their journey, please find links to their fundraising pages below:
Link to Claire's fundraising story, click here.
Link to Emma's fundraising story, click here.
Link to Jemma's fundraising story, click here.
Link to Leah's fundraising story, click here.
Link to Megan's fundraising story, click here.
We will be meeting with our runners throughout their journey and up until race day which is taking place on Sunday 26th April 2020. Stay up to date with their marathon journey and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for your support!
