CALLING all the heroes.On Sunday runners from throughout Suffolk will be dragging their aching limbs around London for the ultimate athletic challenge – the London Marathon.

By Victoria Knowles

CALLING all the heroes.

On Sunday runners from throughout Suffolk will be dragging their aching limbs around London for the ultimate athletic challenge – the London Marathon.

The vast majority of the 50,000 plus runners will be giving their all to raise millions of pounds for charities in their community. If you are one of those selfless individuals The Evening Star wants to hear from you.

Tens of thousands of pounds are expected to be raised by gallant Suffolk athletes alone.

Those lining the route will fill the streets cheering for their mother, father, brother or even grandfather, iron-willed enough to take on the 26 miles and 385 yards of muscle aching and some times gut-wrenching exertion.

Famed for its competitors in flamboyant costumes and fancy dress, inevitably there will be a large chicken and a man dressed as a woman in there some where. It just would not be the London Marathon without it.

Sponsored by Flora it is firmly fixed as a British tradition – one Suffolk is embracing whole-heartedly.

Among the many Suffolk faces will be Glenn Appleby. He has regularly been running the 11-miles from his home in Felixstowe to work in Ipswich. This is Glenn's sixth race and he is raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. So far, in five races, he has already raised £17,613.

Also raring to go on the start line will be Kesgrave Scout leader Robin Percy. The 41-year-old of Jewell View, Kesgrave has set himself a finishing target of four and a half hours. He is raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute in this his first race.

Stowmarket builder, Tony Fowles, will also be there to raise money for the Orimiston Children and Families Trust and he hopes to raise £1,500.

n There will be many unsung heroes from our area. If you are competing in Sunday's marathon we want to hear your story from the big day. After the event telephone The Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 282257 to tell us what the event was like and if you were raising money for the community.