FOUR amateur athletes are starting their final week of training before they run the London Marathon to raise money for Prospect Hospice at the weekend.

Mike Wootton has been a keen runner for almost 30 years and won the Hospice’s official place in this year’s marathon by pledging to raise £2,300 for the charity.

Mr Wootton is fundraising for them because they looked after his mother last year before she passed away.

He said: “I’m 62 now so I haven’t got the advantage of youth. It’s very tiring but I can’t wait to do it.

“I’ve got ‘maranoia’, the paranoia in the run up to the marathon that anything I do might cause an injury that’ll stop me running!”

To donate to Mike, visit mydonate.bt.com, click ‘Sponsor a fundraiser’ and search for Mike Wootton.

Mum-of-two Allison Pearson from Lawn has raised more than £500 so far for the charity. She said: “My father was cared for here before he passed away in 2009, they did tremendous work so it was a natural choice for me to fundraise for them.

“I’ve been running for a few years now. I had a ballot place in the London Marathon two years ago but then got arthritis in my toe and had to have a foot operation, so I withdrew.”

The 42-year-old has prepared for the 26-mile run by finishing the White Horse Foundation half marathon and coming first in the Prospect 10k.

Mrs Pearson added: “I’ve had a few injuries due to the aftermath of the operation but I’ve also had a lot of support from my husband Lee and my daughters ,Cody and Tate.”

Like Allison, Toothill resident Stephen Mottram also got a ballot place in this year’s marathon.

The 38-year-old said: “I’ve been very lucky I haven’t needed to use the services of Prospect but I’ve got a lot of friends that have and the care they offer them is fantastic.

“I wanted to pay something back. It’s been tough but I’ve learned a lot about myself training for this.”

To donate, visit virginmoneygiving.com and search for Allison Pearson or Stephen Mottram, then click ‘Fundraisers’ and search for them again.

Warren Johnson is running in memory of his late partner Sophie Vessey, who was cared for by the Hospice in December 2012 before she passed away from ovarian cancer on Christmas Day.

She persuaded him to run a 10k before she passed and he’s since raised more than £20,000 running marathons and half-marathons for Prospect Hospice.

He said: “It’s been going reasonably well, no hiccups yet.”

To donate, visit virginmoneygiving.com and search for Warren Johnson.