Charity runners from Suffolk and Essex will join more than 40,000 at the starting line of today’s London Marathon - here are a few of the inspiring stories behind them.

East Anglian Daily Times: Janine Simpson, from Colchester, is looking to complete her 100th marathon in London on Sunday. ERIC SHAW/GREAT BENTLEY RUNNING CLUBJanine Simpson, from Colchester, is looking to complete her 100th marathon in London on Sunday. ERIC SHAW/GREAT BENTLEY RUNNING CLUB (Image: Archant)

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East Anglian Daily Times: Pupils at St Helens Primary School help Mr Jarvis with his last training run. Picture: RICHARD LANGRIDGEPupils at St Helens Primary School help Mr Jarvis with his last training run. Picture: RICHARD LANGRIDGE (Image: Archant)

Former army officer Lizzie Rosewell, 39, from Kedington, will be taking on her 15th marathon in 15 days when she lines up for today’s London Marathon. To make the challenge more difficult, she has taken it on alone - carrying her equipment, trent and sleeping bag on her back throughout her challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich firefighter Dale Mason is running the London Marathon in his full firefighting kit. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNIpswich firefighter Dale Mason is running the London Marathon in his full firefighting kit. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Janine Simpson, 46, from Colchester is running her 100th marathon today after catching the running bug a decade ago.

After the birth of her daughter two years ago, Mrs Simpson set her sights on her 100 marathon goal - picking up the pace to finish 78 in the last two years. She is running in aid of Action for Children.

East Anglian Daily Times: Gemma Edgar getting back to normal life with husband Rob Edgar and boys Dylan, 4 and Noah, 2. Picture: STEVE ARGENTGemma Edgar getting back to normal life with husband Rob Edgar and boys Dylan, 4 and Noah, 2. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (Image: Archant)

•Martin Jarvis, deputy headteacher of ST Helen’s Primary School in Ipswich, is taking on the race for Action for ME.

He hopes his marathon attempt will also inspire his pupils to stay fit and active

East Anglian Daily Times: Charlie Middleton, cousin of Cameron Partridge who is running the London Marathon in aid of Make-a-Wish Foundation.Picture: PAULA PARTRIDGECharlie Middleton, cousin of Cameron Partridge who is running the London Marathon in aid of Make-a-Wish Foundation.Picture: PAULA PARTRIDGE (Image: Archant)

Firefighter Dale Mason, 45, watch commander and road traffic collision trauma instructor, will take on gruelling 26.2 mile course around the capital in full gear - including oxygen tank and mask. Mr Mason, from Ipswich, is taking on the challenge in memory of his colleague and ‘brother’ Tony Bickers, 53, who died after he was struck by a train at Mellis in December 2016.

A Colchester mother living with an incurable brain tumour is running the marathon for her son, who has battled a rare form of eye cancer.Despite having monthly doses of chemotherapy Gemma Edgar has continued to train three to four times a week in preparation for the race.

East Anglian Daily Times: Billy Pryke, form Ipswich, is taking on the London Marathon on Sunday. Picture: STEVIE KEENBilly Pryke, form Ipswich, is taking on the London Marathon on Sunday. Picture: STEVIE KEEN (Image: Archant)

The 32-year-old said completing the marathon was on her bucket list.

A mother and daughter duo will run the London Marathon this weekend in a bid to give something back to two charities close to their hearts.Cameron Partridge’s 10-year-old cousin Charlie Middleton has cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy. The Make-a-Wish Foundation, which arranges experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions, organised tickets for the youngster to see the Lion King musical in London.

East Anglian Daily Times: Fabio Wahnon is doing the London Marathon to raise money for the vital work of British Red Cross. Picture: RED CROSSFabio Wahnon is doing the London Marathon to raise money for the vital work of British Red Cross. Picture: RED CROSS (Image: Archant)

Cameron, 19, is taking part with her mother Paula, 45, who is raising for The Salvation Army with the aim of raising £2,000 each.

Billy Pryke, 31, from Ipswich, is running for the Animal Care Trust after his first dog Reggie received pioneering heart surgery at a London animal hospital.The father-of-one said he wanted to give something back.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dan Turner will run the London Marathon in memory of his late fiancee Michelle Dring, who died of a brain tumour aged 24 just one month after they got engaged. Pictured with Dan is his running partner Meg Symons. Picture: GREGG BROWNDan Turner will run the London Marathon in memory of his late fiancee Michelle Dring, who died of a brain tumour aged 24 just one month after they got engaged. Pictured with Dan is his running partner Meg Symons. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“The care they gave us, and Reggie at the hospital was excellent,” he said.

Ipswich resident Fabio Wahnon is looking forward to returning to his home city – and hitting the streets to do the London Marathon to raise money for the vital work of British Red Cross. Mr Wahnon, 28, has lived in Ipswich for the past five years and works for the emergency services.

East Anglian Daily Times: Hannah Page (left) and Hannah Wilkinson are celebrating their 30th birthdays by running the London Marathon in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Picture: TEAM HANNAHHannah Page (left) and Hannah Wilkinson are celebrating their 30th birthdays by running the London Marathon in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Picture: TEAM HANNAH (Image: Archant)

Dan Turner, of Fornham St Martin, is running in memory of his late fiancée who died just one month after their engagement.Mr Turner lost his partner Michelle Dring, known as Shelley, to a brain tumour in October 2009 when she was only 24.

When visiting Ms Dring in hospital, Mr Turner was struck by the good work he witnessed by CLIC Sargent supporting young cancer patients and their families.

East Anglian Daily Times: Brain injury charity Headway Suffolk will be boosted by not just one but two runners for the first time in the London Marathon. Left to right, Jo Fellowes and Sue Vincent. Picture: GREGG BROWNBrain injury charity Headway Suffolk will be boosted by not just one but two runners for the first time in the London Marathon. Left to right, Jo Fellowes and Sue Vincent. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Hannah Page and Hannah Wilkinson (a.k.a. Team Hannah), who are both paediatric nurses at Ipswich Hospital, decided to take on the challenge to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The nurses, who coincidentally both turn 30 within a month of the marathon, often care for children with the condition – which has spurred them on to help find a cure.

East Anglian Daily Times: Tim Prime, 45, will take on the 26.2 mile route to raise money for Children with Cancer UKTim Prime, 45, will take on the 26.2 mile route to raise money for Children with Cancer UK (Image: Archant)

Sue Vincent and Jo Fellowes are tackling the 26.2 mile course around the capital today - the first time two people have run in support of brain injury charity Headway Suffolk.

Tim Prime, 45, is taking on the marathon to raise money for Children with Cancer UK. The external field engineer said: “There have been a number of people I have seen in recent years and know personally that have survived or died from cancer and I thought running the Marathon in aid of a cancer charity would be good way to raise awareness.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Pascal Canevet running for Sarcoma UK. Picture: KARINE CANEVETPascal Canevet running for Sarcoma UK. Picture: KARINE CANEVET (Image: Archant)

A Suffolk RAF veteran is to run the London Marathon dressed as a pants wearing dinosaur to raise awareness of child sexual abuse. Steve Paul, a grandfather from Ipswich, will run the 26 miles on Sunday, April 22, wearing the “Pantosaurus” costume - the NSPCC’s cartoon dinosaur used to explain consent to children.

East Anglian Daily Times: Steve Paul as Pantosaurus. Picture: NSPCCSteve Paul as Pantosaurus. Picture: NSPCC (Image: Archant)

Peter Dawes, an independent financial advisor for CarterDawes IFA Solutions in Ipswich, will take on the challenge in aid of Inspire Suffolk. He will be the first person to compete in the London Marathon for the charity, which helps young people overcome challenges to secure a positive future.

Pascal Canevet, chef-patron at Maison Bleue in Churchgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, is taking on the challenge for Sarcoma UK.Mr Canevet is supporting the charity after a friend’s daughter was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer aged 23.

East Anglian Daily Times: Richard Lewis and Clive Chesser who are running the London Marathon for Macmillan Cancer SupportRichard Lewis and Clive Chesser who are running the London Marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

He said: “This is a first for me and means so much.”

Jess Warren, 23, who is a vet at Eastgate Veterinary Clinic in Cotton Road, Bury St Edmunds, is running funds for the Newmarket-based veterinary research charity the Animal Health Trust.

East Anglian Daily Times: Peter Dawes a charitys first marathon runner. Picture: PETER DAWESPeter Dawes a charitys first marathon runner. Picture: PETER DAWES (Image: Archant)

“The research the AHT complete is vital in helping animals around the world,” she said.

Two Greene King board members are swapping their suits for running gear as they take on the London Marathon today.Richard Lewis, chief operating officer for Greene King Pub Company and Clive Chesser, managing director for Greene King Brewing & Brands, are running for the brewer’s chosen national charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support.