A PRIMARY school teacher is running the London Marathon in memory of her boyfriend who passed away.

Jennifer Livesey, 23, has taught at West Drayton Primary School, in Kingston Lane, since September, and is combining educating the youngsters with a heavy training schedule for the 26.2 mile run.

She said: "I've been training for a while now. I need to raise £4,000 and I'm running it in memory of my boyfriend, Si, who died suddenly.

"I am raising money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young."

She is running the race alongside her sister Rachel, and between them they have already surpassed their target, raising £4,400 before the famous race has even taken place.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Jennifer can visit www.justgiving.com/liveseygirls

A COLLEGE principal is taking on the London Marathon for the first time in 13 years to help raise funds for deaf-blind people.

Simon Steer, of the London School of Theology in Green Lane, Northwood, is running the 26-mile route to raise money for Sense.

The 50-year-old is being supported by students and staff at the college, where he has been working since last September.

He lives with his family in Ley Hill, near Chesham, and they are supporting him too.

The father-of-three said: "I have done the marathon three times before, but this is the first one since I've become old and decrepit.

"In those days I could do it in about three hours, but I doubt very much if I will be able to do four hours now, let alone three. Just getting round will be the challenge this time.

"I am doing it because I want to prove there is life in the old dog and when I heard about Sense I thought it was a great cause to support.

"It will probably be the last time I do it, but you never say never." To sponsor Simon, who has a target of £1,500, people should go to www.justgiving.com/simonsteer

Sense, founded in 1955, supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deaf and blind. It provides expert advice as well as specialist services.

ONE committed runner has been pounding the streets of Hillingdon in his efforts to get fit for the London Marathon.

As part of his preparation for the big run on Sunday, Paul Douglass, of Bracken Village, Ickenham, has been running regularly on weekdays as far as Harrow-on-the-Hill and back, taking in the sights of Ruislip and Eastcote along the way.

Mr Douglass is also running for Sense, the charity for the deaf and blind, and is hoping to raise £2,000. He is already more than halfway there, having passed the £1,300 mark.

He said: "I ran the marathon five years ago with no training and I was in agony.

"So I am taking it seriously this time. I should do better than last time. I am aiming to run it in under four and a half hours.

"Last time I did it in four hours 50 minutes." Mr Douglass, 31, who works in advertising, also recently completed a 20-mile training run at Hemel Hempstead, and has been eating healthy food to boost his training regime.

He added: "I've lived in Ickenham all my life and have been pounding the streets raising money, so people should recognise me."

To donate money to Paul's run, visit www.justgiving.com/pauldouglassrunslondon