AN active volunteer and a local councillor will be running the London Marathon in aid of the Samaritans.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) and Sasha Leigh, a volunteer at Swindon Samaritans, warmed up last Sunday by doing the Longleat 10km.

Coun Pajak said he was supporting the Samaritans because they are relevant to modern society.

He said: "The Samaritans is a great organisation, which in today's stressful world can really help people.

"It's also an organisation that has a branch in Swindon, so it's having a direct benefit on local people."

Coun Pajak ran the London Marathon two years ago, raising money for Dial-a-Ride in the process.

He was intending to run for the Samaritans last year, but was forced to pull out after breaking his leg.

But he did run the Swindon Half Marathon in October raising more than £500 for Age Concern.

It came just a month after he resumed training following his injury.

And although he is still not entirely satisfied with his condition, he says last year's setback has made him even more determined to continue to raise funds for worthy causes.

He said: "The leg is still not perfect so it's a real trial getting fit for the marathon, but I think it has made me even more motivated."

Sasha has been a volunteer at the Swindon branch of the Samaritans for 18 months.

She said: "I'm a listening volunteer, so I talk to people from the local area who have phoned the Samaritans.

"I've been wanting to run a marathon for a long time, but doing it for charity was, I suppose, the spur I needed."

For more information, or to sponsor the runners go to www.justgiving.com/sashaleigh or www.samaritans.org.