A POLICE officer from Brentwood is running the London Marathon on Sunday for a charity which grants wishes to terminally-ill children.

Lewis Mayne, 26, is taking part in the event for the first time and will be putting his body through the mill in order to raise money for Starlight.

The charity provides activities and excersions including holidays abroad and entertainment in hospitals to young children who suffer from terminal illnesses.

Lewis who will be running alongside friends Adam Murphy and Nick Murphy said it will be fantastic to be able to say he did something special for a worthy cause.

Lewis, a PC with the Met Police, said: “The work Starlight does to bring smiles to poorly children and to help them forget their illnesses is wonderful and I am really thrilled to be supporting it.

“Training is going really well although I admit it was tough to begin with.

“I have been sticking to my programme pretty carefully and I hope this, and the thought of helping Starlight to brighten the lives of very sick children will be enough to get me round the course.”

From each pound which Lewis manages to raise, 93p will go directly to the charity.

To donate to Lewis and his friends, visit www.justgiving. com/Murphy-Mayne Another runner, Victoria Keil, had to go through an anxious wait last weekend to see if doctors felt a leg injury she picked up in training would mean she would have to miss out on the marathon.

But after being given the all-clear the runner who works for Ford in Warley and is raising money for disability charity Scope is now excited about taking part.

The 29-year-old’s brother Jonathan was born with cerebral palsy and Victoria says he has been a “true inspiration” to her marathon effort.

She said: “I am so proud of what he has achieved, from the little boy who could barely walk or speak, to the young man who pretty much can do and achieve anything he wants.

“Charities such as Scope have been a huge support along the way, not only to Jonathan but also for us as a family.

“I’m not aiming for a time, this is purely to raise money and a personal challenge of mine, probably the toughest challenge I will ever face in my life, so I intend to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the day.

“If I get injured I will just walk, but I promise you I will get to that finish line.”

To donate to Victoria, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com /VictoriaKeil Most 40th birthdays are spent at home or a pub with friends and family.

However, Alexa Parker, of Rose Valley, Brentwood, will be celebrating her milestone birthday by running in the London Marathon to raise money for Children With Cancer UK.

Her daughter Elsie had to be treated as an outpatient at Great Ormond Street Hospital when she was younger and Mrs Parker said seeing some of the sick children there was a really sad sight.

She said: “It’s my chance to help people who are suffering the most heartbreaking time imaginable by raising as much money as I can.

“The training has been harder and more time consuming than I imagined especially in the hideous cold weather, but nowhere near as hard as coping with a sick child.

“The birthday party is obviously delayed till after the marathon, although I intend to celebrate all year.”