TWENTY Marathon runners proved an inspiration to others in completing the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday (April 25) raising over £16,000 for Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice, a charity that provides high quality care to local people at the end of their lives.

Several runners beat their fundraising targets, while some runners achieved their personal best time across the gruelling 26.2 mile course.

One of those was Education and Practice Development Lead Nurse Deirdre Peters, who completed the Marathon in a personal best time of 5 hours and 1 minute.

Deirdre, aged 49, from Abbey Wood, said she decided to raise money for Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice because of the excellent care it provides for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Three years ago the Hospice cared for her mum in the last days of her life.

"It was an absolutely fantastic day," said Deirdre. "I really enjoyed it. I'm delighted to have achieved a personal best!"

Meanwhile, Catherine Collins and her friend Lara Catterall from London Bridge raised £9,462 and are confident they will go over £10,000. Catherine, from Hither Green, ran the Marathon in memory of her mum, who was cared for by the Hospice.

Catherine (30) said: "My mum knew that she would eventually die of cancer and was so relieved to know the Hospice would be there for her. She was treated with amazing care and kindness by the staff. My mum was able to spend her last few weeks at home but it was always so reassuring for us to know the Hospice was there if we needed it. In my mum's last few weeks she asked me to run a Marathon for the Hospice. We used to watch the race together from Woolwich when I was a kid. Running the first 10 miles was great; I was running around areas I grew up in."

Catherine completed the gruelling course in 3 hours 59 minutes and 12 seconds.

Hospice Chief Executive, Kate Heaps, said: "I'd like to thank all our runners for the time and dedication that they put into running the Marathon on behalf of the Hospice and helping to raise over £16,000. I am very proud, grateful and impressed with them all. The money they raised will help to provide specialist care and support to over 1,000 people with life-limiting illnesses a year, as well as their families and carers."

RUNNERS who took part in the London Marathon on behalf of Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice: Rachael Sinclair, Sam Wright and Nicholas Cotton (Erith, Paul Thackaberry, Samantha Taylor, Toni Marie Roberts, Michael Creasey(Woolwich), Joseph Lok, Alan Wright(Welling), Stuart Roffey, Vince Porto(Bexleyheath), Mark Smedley, Deirdre Peters (Abbey Wood), Rita Karaliene (Blackheath), Andrew Inglis (Brixton), Catherine Collins (Hither Green), Lara Catterall(London Bridge), Ian Harvey (Belvedere), Dominic Tomlinson (Surrey) and Paul Knechtl.