Meet three of the inspirational Northampton runners taking on this year’s virtual London Marathon

Teresa McCarthy-Dixon (top), Amy Taylor (bottom left) and David Sanderson (bottom right) will all take on the challenge this weekend.

A number of local runners will be taking on a virtual version of the London Marathon this weekend after the pandemic wreaked havoc with the event.

After the run was first cancelled in April and as large gatherings are still not allowed under coronavirus restrictions, thousands of runners across the country will be clocking up 26.2 miles in their local areas.

Runners including a teacher from Duston running for a baby loss charity and pub landlady, charity founder and lockdown hero - Teresa McCarthy-Dixon - will need to complete the challenge within 24 hours on Sunday (October 4).

Teresa said: “I’m 40 in November so I thought it would be another nice thing on my to do list to run it in a good time.

“I ran it last year with very little training and with everything that has been going on this year, I have struggled with time to train again.

“Because it is a virtual one, there is no huge pressure on it so I’ve got nothing to lose and my children want to do a few miles with me.”

During lockdown, Teresa used her pub, The Swan and Helmet in Grove Road, Abington, as a food bank to lend a helping hand to those who needed it.

Since then, she has created a charity - The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation - which includes a weekly food larder, as well projects to makeover homes and gardens of local people who are in ill health or suffering bereavement.

Teresa added: “The fundraising for the marathon will help to fund this project and help to get the makeovers off the ground before winter starts.

“We have one woman who is going through chemo booked in for next week and we have a lot of other gardens and homes to get through.”

Teresa is hoping to tick off 14 miles on Sunday by doing two laps of Pitsford Reservoir and she is hoping to finish in The Racecourse so her children can join her.

Visit Teresa’s fundraising page to support her.Another local runner who will also be taking on the gruelling challenge is David Sanderson from West Hunsbury.

The 31-year-old had a charity place in this year’s event for Club Rafiki, which is an organisation that helped to build the Nanyuki Prep School in Kenya.

Children aged three to 12 attend the school, which is entirely funded by charities and donations.

Many of the pupils are orphans due to aids and some are, themselves HIV positive.

Education is an escape from poverty for the youngsters and the money David hopes to raise by clocking up the miles on the Norbital as well as the Upton parkrun route will go to supporting the school.

David’s fundraising page can be found here.Also preparing to don her running shoes and clock up the miles on Sunday, is key worker Amy Taylor, who is raising money for Hft, a charity which helps disabled people in the community.

The 38-year-old from Duston said: “My main reason for running is to raise awareness and money for the charity that helps people with learning disabilities.

“My brother has had his problems for years and the charity helps people like him.

“He is my biggest inspiration and he has been given such a bad hand in life.

“I’ve been given an opportunity to do something great so I’m going to grab it with both hands while I’m able to.”

This will be Amy’s first marathon, but she is feeling confident and ready as she has managed to fit in her training around her work in a hospital throughout the pandemic.

To support Amy, visit her fundraising page.Do you know of more local people taking part in the virtual London Marathon this weekend? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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