Husband and wife teams, doctors from local hospitals and a man who had recently recovered from brain surgery were among hundreds of north London runners who completed the London Marathon on Sunday.
Nicholas Roseborne, of Granville Road, Golders Green, left his family glowing with pride after he ran the race in a personal best time of three hours and 15 minutes – just three months after having two operations on his brain.
The 27-year-old, who owns Computer Matters in Temple Fortune, had seven weeks to train after undergoing brain surgery in January and December. He raised £1,500 for Jewish charity Norwood.
Also among the ranks were a number of doctors from local hospitals including Mo Keshtgar, 49, consultant oncologist at the Royal Free, who raised nearly £110,000 for pioneering breast cancer research at the hospital in Pond Street, Hampstead.
Dr Kathrina Crystallis and consultant gynaecologist Narendra Pisal raised money for the women’s health department at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate and have almost reached their £5,000 target.
Dr Crystallis, 26, said: “My first job was within the women’s health department. I enjoyed it so much and was inspired by the people I was working with, so I teamed up with my consultant to raise money for this great department.”
They were joined by fellow Whittington medic Dr Melissa Chowdhury who ran in aid of the hospital’s elderly care department and has raised more than £2,000.
Husband and wife team Sara and Roger Black, aged 40 and 46, of Dartmouth Park, ran through the finish line holding hands – but their journey did not go quite as planned with Mr Black wheeled off to an ambulance at the end of the race.
Mrs Black said: “Roger was injured beforehand so he couldn’t train fully. Sometimes he could barely walk and I had to hold him up. But through gritted teeth and determination, we finished together, holding hands.”
The couple finished in four hours, 45 minutes and raised £2,000 for World Jewish Relief.
Mother-of-three Katie Fearn, 31, avoided a post-race forfeit by beating her husband Rob Fearn, 32, to the finish line.
The couple, who live in Connaught Drive, Hampstead Garden Suburb, raised more than £8,000 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, which has treated all three of their young children for digestive problems.
Jonathan and Lauren Barr, another husband and wife team, also celebrated success.
Mr Barr, 53, a partner at Hampstead Garden Suburb estate agents Godfrey and Barr, ran the marathon for a fourth time while Mrs Barr, 48, tackled it for a third time. Together they raised more than £6,000 for North London Hospice.
Mother and daughter duo Danielle and Miranda Donne, from Hampstead Garden Suburb, ran for special needs charity Kisharon, finishing a second apart after four hours and 51 minutes.
Solicitor Danielle said: “It was really good, it was the perfect weather and the crowds were fabulous. We are really pleased with ourselves and proud of finishing in such a good time.”
Kisharon had six runners who raised a record £30,000 – who also included St John’s Wood resident Deon Gouws, chief investment officer for Credo Group, and full-time mother Lana Shaw, 34, from Belsize Park.
Ms Shaw, 34, said: “I know of the work Kisharon does in the community and it is unbelievable.”
On hand to care for weary legs after the race were student osteopaths from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine in Finchley Road.
Poonam Shah, lecturer at the college and the supervising osteopath treating runners, said: “It was a very successful day at the marathon. The fourth year students had a blast and the athletes were all very impressed with their treatments.”
* PHOTO GALLERY: For pictures of the runners featured in this story, click the link on the right hand side of the page.
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