Duo complete London Marathon for charity

A PAIR of Teesdale runners have used their debut attempt at the London Marathon to raise cash for causes close to their hearts.

Not only did Evenwood Road Runners member Gillian Ball complete her first London marathon, it was her first marathon ever, while fellow club member Julia Clifford achieved her goal of finishing the epic race in a little over five hours.
Ms Ball said: “Competing in London was amazing – and where else would you go to do your first marathon and to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”
She ran the race to raise cash for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association in memory of her mother who died of the disease.
The mum of two ran the Great North Run in September 2011 to raise funds to help find a cure for MND.
She said: “I lost my mum in June 2011 so it was quite an emotional race. After that I ran on and off for a while with Teesdale Athletics and then joined Evenwood Road Runners in 2013 and have been with them ever since.
Ms Ball completed the London Marathon in six hours, three minutes and four seconds.
Ms Clifford finished the Manchester Marathon last year in a time of 5 hours and 29 minutes improved on that during the London event finishing in five hours, 17 minutes and 31 seconds.
Ms Clifford ran in support of Pancreatic Cancer UK.
She said: “It was four years this month since I lost my father to pancreatic cancer and I ran this in his memory and to help raise funds for this awful disease.”
She started running four years ago and has been with Evenwood Road Runners for the past two years.
She said: “It is a fantastic supportive running club with a real family feel. Running the London marathon is a massive achievement.”
To support the runners and their causes visit justgiving. com/Gill-Ball3 and justgiving. com/Julia-Clifford3.