"I can do it for her," says marathon man

Garreth Ellidge (32), who claims he “does not enjoy running one bit”, was motivated by his wife Bobbie (32) to take on the mammoth task of tackling the 26.2 miles, and has been fundraising ever since.

Garreth, who lives on Mclindon Court in Harle Syke with Bobbie, will also have another supporter cheering him on after he found out he had a place in the marathon a day after the couple’s son, Henry, was born almost nine months ago.

“What Bobbie has to deal with on a day-to-day basis is so tough,” said Garreth, who works for the Royal Mail. “I don’t know how she does it.”

No stranger to charity, Garreth has raised over £14,000 for various causes in the past, but believes that London will be “more special” as he will be raising for something “close to my heart,” come the marathon on Sunday, April 23rd.

“It was a great feeling to be accepted for Diabetes UK,” Garreth continued. “[It’s] given me that extra push to not only do the marathon, but raise as much as money as possible.”

Keen to kick off his fundraising efforts, Garreth has already held a coffee morning in February and a quiz night in March which raised over £900, taking his fundraising total to £2,678 and smashing his £2,000 target.

“Living with diabetes effects our life dramatically and I admire Garreth’s efforts greatly,” said Bobbie. “He’s incredibly selfless and always looking to do something for the greater good.”

Also embracing the physical challenge as well as the charitable one, Garreth said: “Training has been tough [but] I want to break 3:30.

“I don’t enjoy running one bit,” said Garreth. “But I knew I could do [it] for her.”