Daisy’s dream team for London Marathon

A MAGNIFICENT seven will be running the London Marathon next week to help support the work of a Twyfordbased bereavement charity.

The team will run the 26.2 mile course around the capital city to raise funds for Daisy’s Dream.

Some of the runners are marathon novices, while others have more experience, but they will all be hoping to make it round the course.

Joanne Jones, 45, and a working mum of two young girls, from Twyford, is one of the novices joining the team. She has fitted training around her family and work commitments at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Ms Jones is supporting the charity following the loss of her own mother, seven years ago, and who is her inspiration to never give up – a motto that should serve well on race day.

Also running is Liam Smith, 26, a builder from Woodley. Daisy’s Dream supported his family after the death of his father when he was younger. His first marathon, Liam has been fundraising for the charity for several years, including numerous half marathons and cycling from London to Newcastle in just 24 hours.

Amanda Phillips-Wylds, 35, is taking on a double marathon for the charity, running the Paris Marathon first, quickly followed by London. Amanda, a keen runner, works for local solicitors KJ Smith, which has offices in Woodley, Henley, and Windsor, who support the charity.

And from Goring Heath is Barrie Jackson, 48, who will be running his 13th Marathon in London, and who was moved to support the charity after attending its 21st anniversary ball last year and hearing about the vital work offered to local children.

They’ll be joined in the Dream Team by Tom Buckland, 34, from London was inspired by friends to join this year’s team, when he heard about the wonderful work with carried out with children.

Joining from on their ballot places are Christina Brown, 41, a teacher from Newbury, who has chosen to run for Daisy’s Dream following the death of a family friend, leaving behind a young family that the charity are supporting, and the latest Dream Team member, Michael Hill, 54, from Earley, who has previously raised funds for the charity at the Reading Half Marathon.

Claire Rhodes, fundraiser at Daisy’s Dream, said: “We’re very lucky to have such a fantastic lineup of runners this year, each training and fundraising hard to raise vital sponsorship.

“As a small charity with no government funding, the fabulous fundraising efforts of people such as our Dream Team are essential for us.”

Daisy’s Dream supports children and families dealing with serious illness or bereavement. It costs more than £400,000 per year to run.

To support the runners, visit www. daisysdream.org.uk/donate