A team of runners are due to participate in a marathon to raise funds for a children's hospice.

Seven runners are currently undertaking their last days of training to take part in The Virgin London Marathon 2019 to raise money for Haven House Children's Hospice in Woodford Green.

The runners, alongside an expected 35,000 others, will be undertaking the 39th London Marathon on Sunday, April 28 around the capital.

One of the runners, Natasha Elliott from Walthamstow has been supporting the hospice through the Woodford Women's Institute who chose it as its charity of the year.

She said: "I’ve always wanted to run a marathon, especially London. I’ve run on and off for a few years but never taken on such a big challenge.

"I’m most looking forward to all the supporters and running such an iconic event. I’m most dreading the blisters.

"Knowing that I’m running for Haven House and raising money for an amazing charity is the best motivation."

Another runner is Bradley Howe who is aiming to complete the marathon in under four hours and has already surpassed his £2,000 fundraising goal.

He is running in memory of his son Harvey who died at 16 years old in 2018, after he was born with a rare genetic disorder, Glycogen storage disease type 4, which affected his liver and muscles causing weakness, fatigue and muscle loss.

He said: "The Haven House Hospice at Home team gave us the confidence to nurse Harvey through to the end knowing that there was support available 24 hours a day.

"Harvey spent a night in the Haven House Butterfly suite after he passed away which allowed us more time to say goodbye.

"I am running the marathon to raise money for the hospice who supported Harvey and all our family during this very difficult time."

Mother of two Sara Leigh from Hainault decided to sign-up for the marathon after hitting her 40th birthday and losing over two stone in weight.

She heard about Haven House from a good friend who works at the hospice.

She said: "My two girls are very excited about their mum running the marathon.

"My motivation for running is the freedom and it's a great place where no-one is calling my name and I switch off.

"I switch off from the phone calling and I just collect my thoughts and listen to music."

Another runner is tax advisor Matt Rowland, 32, had only ever run up to five miles before starting his training and has now exceeded more than 15 miles.

Runner Lorna Ross completed her first London Marathon in 2010 and said she would never do it again, but this year decided to take on a second marathon challenge.

She said: "I'm so privileged to be given the opportunity to run London again. I'm aware how lucky I am to be able to take on this challenge and have my two strong beautiful boys cheer me on. The staff at Haven House are the real heroes working every day to make lives better."

Sujan Shah learned about the hospice's work through his local Business Networking Group in Enfield.

He said: "I believe there is only one true measure of success - happiness - and for me when my boys, Rhys and Arran came into my world, I really understood what true happiness is.

"With that in mind, the thought of any child suffering with a life threatening or limiting illness really does not bear thinking about.

"It puts the work that the team at Haven House do into chilling context.

"They believe in the best possible life for every baby, child and young person with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their families, who live in our local communities.

"If I have been able to touch your life, your generosity will mean the world to me."

The final runner in the seven person group is Matthew Palmer.

He won his race place in the ballot and chose to run for Haven House.

Mr Palmer said: "I am certainly not a natural distance runner being 100kg and I only started running to train for my first marathon at 37 – I know, I am a bit of a cliché.

"So getting up to marathon distance each time has been a genuine effort. Each of my longer weekend training runs has taken me past Haven House and the longer those runs became and the deeper you have to dig, the greater the motivation running for such an inspirational institution provides.

"Thinking of the families Haven House help will certainly be a source of added determination on Marathon day."

To support any of these runners, visit https://www.havenhouse.org.uk/news/meet-our-marathon-runners for the links to each runner's fundraising page.