AFTER suffering an ankle injury 14 miles into the London Marathon, Nick Bohane was spurred on by the most unlikely of companions in the form of EastEnders' actor Adam Woodyatt.

Two-time marathon runner Nick, 34, said he was taken aback when he realised he was running next to the soap star who is set to take centre stage at the Wyvern Theatre for this Christmas’ panto.

“There was a sharp pain in my ankle just as I passed mile 14 and so that slowed me down a little but up ahead I could see Adam Woodyatt taking selfies with people as he ran,” Nick said.

“I think he was getting a bit annoyed by it so we just had a little chat. At first, I didn’t realise it was him but he was struggling and his son was up ahead.

“We got talking about him coming to Swindon for the panto and then I carried on but that was so surreal.”

While being disappointed by his time due to the ankle injury setback, finishing the race in just under six hours, Nick said he struggled on to make sure he completed the course in aid of St John Ambulance.

The dad was inspired by his wife Amber, who is a first aider, to choose the charity in honour of their work at public events and added that it was from seeing them help injured runners that made the race worth it.

“As I ran along, I could see volunteers helping people who had pulled hamstrings or had other injuries and that’s when I thought how much help and support they give to people and events like the marathon.

“It was great to see their presence.”

Nick added: “Even though I knew how I would feel having ran the marathon last year, I was still nervous because not finishing always played on my mind but it was such a great atmosphere that it was a case of mind over matter.”

He now hopes that through a sweet sale at work in Nationwide will help him smash his £1,800 fundraising target.

Churchfields Academy dance teacher Caroline Jarvis completed the London Marathon for the Stroke Association in 4.49 hours.

Staff and students held various fundraising events to support her, raising over £1000 through cake sales, raffle and donations. Caroline who ran the marathon in memory of her dad raised a total of over £3000 for the Stroke Association.

“It was an amazing and unforgettable experience and all the students and staff have been incredible and supportive throughout all of the training and fundraising and I hope I have inspired the students to run it in the future,” she said.

A sleepless night couldn’t deter Amy Hadland, 26, from finishing the London Marathon and she managed to shave 15 minutes from her intended time goal. Amy managed to complete the 26.2 mile course in five hours and fifteen minutes after being inspired to take part by her late grandfather, Peter Walker, who completed the race in the 1980s.

Amy, who lives in West Swindon, said she was elated to be greeted by her boyfriend and parents at the finishing line.

“I was really nervous beforehand,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep on Friday night but the whole thing was absolutely amazing. There was such an atmosphere and it was when I got to mile 18 that I thought I can’t do this but then the crowds cheered me on and it gave me such a boost.

“I think my grandad would have been proud of me now I’ve completed it which is lovely to think.”

Amy, who works at Swindon College as a HR advisor, was running in aid of Swindon Mind and so far has managed to raise over £900.

She hopes to handover the money to the charity in the next couple of weeks.

“I didn’t need music for the race because there were bands at almost every mile and you ended up talking to the people running next to you,” Amy said.

“I ran with a random guy almost the entire way and everyone was out to support you which was so nice.”

London was the first marathon for Rob Hunt.

He was running for Swindon charity Dressability, which has his Paralympian sister Louise as one of its trustees.

“I did it in four hours 44 minutes. Quite chuffed ,” he messaged the Advertiser after crossing the finish line. His efforts have raised around £2,000 for the organisation which helps disabled people by altering their clothes to make them easier to put on and wear.

Thirty-two-year-old Mickey Harvey raised an incredible £3,500 for the British Heart Foundation. In 2005, his brother David suddenly passed away whilst serving in the British Army after suffering a heart attack. Following his death, David was found to have the rare heart defect ARVC and Long-QT Syndrome, a disease of the heart muscle that can cause life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities.

Mickey’s little sister Tammy was later diagnosed with the same condition, which resulted in her having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted on her heart at the age of 16 to control her heartrate.

Because of this rare condition, Tammy will have to have a major operation every six years.

Mickey said after crossing the finish line: “Running the London Marathon was such an incredible experience. The atmosphere on the day was fantastic and I’m so proud to have been running for the BHF.

“Knowing that I was running for such a great cause, raising money for their vital research, really spurred me on to the finish line.

“Hopefully the money I raise will help make a difference to the millions of people in the UK living with heart and circulatory disease.”