The Standard has put together a round-up of runners taking on this year’s London Marathon.

Here are their stories:

AMY BECKETT

A WOMAN diagnosed with a rare form of cancer will mark five years in remission by running the London Marathon.

Amy Beckett, 26, of Woodside, Southminster, will be pounding the pavements on April 23 in aid of Bloodwise.

Amy was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma five and a half years ago after a lump came up on her neck.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.

She underwent eight months of chemotherapy and in October last year was referred back to her GP after five years in the clear.

“I had a small lump on my neck and I thought I must have just slept on it funny and pulled a muscle,” she said.

“My mum went into a bit of a tizz and said I had to go to the doctors straight away.

“They told me I needed to go to A&E. Within less than a month I was diagnosed, had a biopsy and operation and was told I needed chemotherapy.”

Amy decided to enter the ballot after being encouraged by a friend who was doing the same thing, but sadly missed out.

She said: “This year marks five years in remission and it felt like a really nice time to be trying something silly.

“I don’t like running - it is not what I enjoy doing at all.

“I was peer pressured into applying and have been able to get to do it and have gone through the training and found I enjoy running.

“I have a time I would really like to finish between four hours, 15 minutes and four hours, 30 minutes – that would be fantastic.

“I'm really nervous about completing the marathon as the furthest I've run to date is 10km but it felt like a really nice way to celebrate five years of remission and support a charity that is doing so much to help those with various blood cancers.”

Amy, a project manager for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, hopes to raise £1,500 for Bloodwise.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Amy-Beckett9.

JOHN MALONE

A SOUTHMINSTER man will be running the London Marathon after being inspired by his father-in-law.

John Malone, 37, of Lavender Drive, is raising money for Seafarers UK.

He said: “I decided to run the marathon after watching my father in law run it last year, it was such a buzz to be down there and when my friend phoned with a space I took the opportunity.

“It’s also a great challenge for me personally, and my brother in law Adam Brotherton who is a personal trainer is helping me to get my fitness up and hopefully complete in the time that I've set.

“I also want to raise as much money as I can for this amazing charity.”

To donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for John Malone.

MARK RIBET

AN experienced runner is taking on the London Marathon to raise money for a disability charity.

Mark Ribet, 51, of Tideway, Maldon, is running in aid of the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity.

He said: “I am doing the marathon for the Leonard Cheshire charity because I work for Howdens joinery and it is Howdens charity parter as well as being a fantastic charity.

“I ran the Brighton marathon in 2013 for breast cancer care and have run many half marathons and 10 k races and run about 30 miles a week all year round.”

To donate visit JustGiving and search for Mark Ribet.

Read part two of the round-up tomorrow.

Want to be included? Email rebecca.creed@nqe.com with your name, address, age, why you are running, your fundraising page and a picture of yourself.