Thousands of people took part in the London Marathon on Sunday in a bid to raise money for a worthy cause.
Here are the inspirational stories of some of the people from Hertfordshire who ran 26 miles for a charity close to their heart:
James Bancroft from Leavesden completed his third marathon in 5 hours 11 minutes nad has so far raised £1,000 on his JustGiving page.
Each time he has raced he has raced funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital as his son Henry was treated there in 2016 for an extremely rare immune deficiency.
He had chemotherapy for 10 days then received a bone marrow transplant and now has have monthly appointments while recovery continues.
Richard Scott from Radlett also ran his third London Marathon in 7 hours and 30 minutes and raised £2,223.
It was his sixth marathon in total in aid of Aspire, the national charity that provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury.
Richard Scott
Richard is currently working as redevelopment project manager at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where Aspire and the Aspire Leisure Centre are also based.
He was persuaded to run the London Marathon in 2018 by his two nieces who, following their move from Johannesburg to London, asked Richard to help them complete their bucket list.
So far they have been to a few sporting fixtures including trips to the Six Nations, to Lord’s to see South Africa play cricket and to Cardiff to see them play rugby. Next on the list is the London Marathon.
Carl Graham from Aldenham completed the race in 5 hours and 55 minutes despite having kidney stones the week before.
He raised £1,000 in support of the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
Carl Graham (left) with friend Alex Lacey who also ran
Mike Ingram from Radlett ran as part of a group which raised £15,000 for Samaritans in 5 hours and 7 mins. This was his 50th marathon.
Mike Ingram with his son Harry
27-year-old Lauren Waterman from Elstree competed for Jewish Care in memory of her grandmother Barbara.
She said: “It was really hard but every mile I ran I knew I was getting closer to my target and I’m really pleased I exceeded my fundraising target.”
Tom Allerton from Watford took part in his first marathon while simultaneously DJing.
Mr Allerton, who is also known as Marathon DJ, raised money for Action Against Hunger, who have been leading the global fight against hunger for 40 years, as well as Trekstock, which supports young people with cancer.
As an amateur runner and DJ, he explained how he came up with the idea to combine his two passions: "I was out running and a song came on my playlist which was completely wrong for that point in my run.
I really needed to hear an uplifting track and thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if someone could soundtrack my run in real time."
Nathan Deamer, who lives in Watford and was treated at Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood for testicular cancer in 2010, ran his first London Marathon for Macmillan.
He said: "I had nine weeks of intensive chemotherapy over Christmas 2010 before getting the all clear in January 2011.
"Six years on I am still thankful for everything that Macmillan staff did to help me and my family. Now I want to give something back."
Simeon Barnett, 43, from Borehamwood raised £5,700 for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity running in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
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