MORE than 90 competitors from Winchester, and a further 500-plus from Hampshire, will put on their running shoes this Sunday to take part in the 29th London Marathon.

They will be among the 34,000 runners putting themselves through the 26-mile pain barrier, many to raise money for good causes.

One of them, Lynsey Bell, from Winchester, will be raising money for the World Cancer Research Fund.

The 31-year-old account manager, of Thistledown Close, said: “This will be my first marathon. I’ve never been much of a runner before, but after my grandfather Cecil died from cancer last March, I really wanted to do something in his memory.”

To sponsor Lynsey, visit www.wcrf-uk.org/sponsor.

A week after running the marathon, Winchester aid worker Catherine Leeson, 30, of Hampton Lane, will visit poor people in Bangladesh to see where the money she raises for Catholic aid agency CAFOD will be spent.

To sponsor Catherine visit www.justgiving.com/cathersrunslondon.

Lizzie Brown and Holly Mansbridge, who both play for Winchester Shots and Chasers netball club, will also take part.

Holly, of Stoke Charity Road, Kings Worthy, said: “Our training schedule is going well despite being puncuated by illness and netball-related injuries, Our sponsorship target is £3,000.”

To sponsor the girls visit www.justgiving.co.uk/lizzieandholly.