INSPIRATIONAL runners from across Dorset were among the thousands pounding the streets in the London Marathon.

More than 38,000 fundraisers, amateur runners and elite athletes took part in the 26.2-mile challenge, making it the biggest in the event’s history.


In a year which saw 41-year-old women’s world record holder Paula Radcliffe compete for the final time, dozens taking part from Dorset were also making their mark.

Brave Chandos Green from Bournemouth has beaten brain tumours on three separate occasions, with surgery to remove one the size of a golf ball leaving him disabled.

When the tumour returned in the summer of 2014 the 19-year-old pledged then, that whatever happened, he would run the marathon.

The left side of his body is severely weakened and it has been less than a year since he endured a four-and-a-half hour operation to remove the growth.

But he defied the odds and achieved his goal, raising more than £1,500 for Children with Cancer in the process.

Speaking to the Daily Echo as he entered the final stages of the race, Chandos said: “The atmosphere has been just incredible – I can’t believe how encouraging everyone has been.

“It has been so hard – it was always going to be difficult for me, but the full reality of what I was taking on didn’t really hit home until it started.”

Karen Irons-Mclean not only raised money for MacMillan Caring Locally at Christchurch, she also broke the record for the world’s fastest female playing card to run a marathon.

Dressed as the Queen of Hearts, the 39-year-old completed the race in four hours five minutes and 35 seconds, taking the record from American Lisa Wright.

“It feels great to have the record,” said Karen.

“It was a bit awkward to run in, it was flapping around a bit, but looking at some of the other costumes I think I chose well.

“I’m aching a bit now though – and I’m doing an ultra marathon in the New Forest next week which isn’t the best timing.”

And 28-year-old Mark Willis was also running for a good cause – Headway Dorset in Poole – which took care of his dad Dave after a horrific car crash left him brain damaged in 1998.

Before the accident Dave had travelled the world running eight marathons, once clocking up an impressive time of two hours 45 minutes and 18 seconds.

He has made incredible progress and Mark, now a father himself, said running the marathon for Headway was “the best way I can say thank you for giving my children their granddad”.

Speaking after completing the marathon in three hours 45 minutes and 22 seconds, an exhausted Mark said: “It went really well – the conditions were great. I hope I’ve made dad proud.”

Cancer survivor Eddie Cain, 33, of St Ives in Ringwood, also took on the challenge in aid of Beating Bowel Cancer – but with the added obstacle of wearing a pair of snow shoes.

An amazing feat given Eddie was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the beginning of October 2013 after being rushed to hospital in need of an emergency blood transfusion and iron infusion, due to internal bleeding caused by a 10cm tumour on his colon.

At the end of last year, after 10 rounds of heavy duty chemotherapy and major surgery, his latest scan was clear.

His dad and brother have both run the marathon a number of times and he said this time it was his turn.

He said: “I thought the harder and dafter the challenge, the more people would be likely to sponsor me so I’m hoping the snow shoes and pulk will help me to raise as much as possible for the charity.”

And Dorset County Council chief executive Debbie Ward, 53, also completed the test of endurance in a bid to raise £4,000 for Bournemouth based safety charity LV= Streetwise.

Brothers Mark and Kevin Watson entered the run and raised more than £3,000 for a cancer ward at Poole Hospital Inspired by the bravery of their friend Abbe Bladon, the pair hopes the cash will improve condition for those undergoing chemotherapy.

For Matt Deane, who lives and works in Christchurch, this was his second marathon of the month and he managed to raise £2,000 for Guide Dogs.

And Poole-based George Martin, a bus driver and lunchtime assistant at Upton Infant School, ran the marathon to raise funds for Forest Holme Hospice in memory of his father Terry.