The Pembroke committee of Macmillan Cancer Relief hopes to benefit greatly from the athletic prowess of several local runners taking part in the London Marathon on April 13.
It will be a first attempt by John Evans, of Cosheston, who is delighted to have been accepted this year, after his application was turned down last year. He trains by running six miles every evening and something over 16 miles at weekends.
Then there's the magnificent Dyde family from Pembroke, Martin, Lorraine and Robert, who raised nearly £1,400 for the charity last year. It will be the second time for 20-year-old son Robert, who last year completed the distance in four hours and 51 minutes and hopes to improve on that with his attempt.
Lorraine will be making her third run and will be pleased if she finishes in under four hours and 48 minutes which she attained last year, while Martin is one of the elite marathon runners, this being his eighth year. Last year he achieved two hours 45 minutes, which was a minute slower than his run the previous year, a time which Lorraine jokingly puts down to advancing old age! Nevertheless it is a terrific achievement which shows much determination and courage.
Martin is usually the first amateur runner of the Macmillan contingent from all over Britain to arrive in the Macmillan Recovery Room at the end of the race, where he has always been delighted with his reception and treatment.
The family, who do not train together, have two training sessions a week all the year around, but as the marathon approaches, this is increased to daily runs with even more strenuous training sessions.
Anyone who would like to sponsor this extraordinary effort will find sponsorship forms in most of the local shops in Pembroke's Main Street, or they can be obtained from committee members.