People across Dorset put on their running shoes and ran the London Marathon for causes close to their hearts.
People chose to run in memory of loved ones they have lost and some even broke world records.
Many described how 'incredibly special' the run was and how 'lucky' they were to be given the opportunity to run it.
Scroll below to see the stories of these determined Dorset runners and how they got on.
Community answers
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"After the London Marathon, we will be putting together an article on some of the Dorset runners who took part. If you would like to feature, please fill out the following fields."
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I was pulled out the hat by my running club. Its been 11 years coming and I loved it.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as they tried to help my husband when he fell ill
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Good for Age position, qualifying for World Majors.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?For NSPCC
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Tell us a little about why you ran?For my Dad and for British Heart Foundation whose research helped save his life
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran in memory of my Dad, ex partner and old school friend
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I lost my 19 year old son in 2022 to suicide, I ran London 23 and raise 20,000 for Mind charity. I ran again this you and so far have raise £2835
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Tell us a little about why you ran?To raise money for Children with Cancer uk, one of four fantastic charities that the school I work at, support. Ballard School
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Tell us a little about why you ran?To raise money for The Royal British Legion a charity close to my heart as an ex serving member of the Army and still serving with our local Army Reserve Unit, C Company, 6 Rifles.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Je My wife entered me for the ballot, alongside herself, her daughter and son-in-law. How she laughed when I got a place. It was my first marathon and I’m in my 70’s. I did not nominate a charity until just before. Sadly my mother-in-law, Mae Miller passed away peacefully in the Evergreen Suite (palliative care) at Westhaven on 02/04/2024. This facility meant so much to the family, who were able to spend quality, comfortable and personal time with her. Funds for this room were raised by The League of Friends, Weymouth and Portland Hospitals and it seemed fitting to raise funds for them so they can continue their good work.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Offered a place from MS Society after raising over £10000 for them last year running 52 marathons in 2023. This marathon came when training for a backyard ultra. I decided to run it twice. Ran the London Marathon route in reverse along the route from the finish to the start. Started that one at 2am with a group of fellow crazy people - then somehow managed a sub 4 when starting the main event a few hours later.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?This time last year I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and couldn't use the lower left side of my body. I ran London for the MS Trust as a way to raise awareness of MS, and also to kick MS in the teeth and prove to myself that I can still do hard things!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?the left photo I’d undergone three brain surgeries and I was about to embark on a new life. New version of Holly. In the right. Is present day. In that time, 1,828 days to be exact, I’ve learnt to walk, how to talk again and regained some lost confidence. Today marks five years since the start of my new life. Today I ran a marathon. I ran to remind myself anything is possible, but to remind myself what I’ve achieved. I’m mega proud of me.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I love running have done numerous marathons but had entered the ballot every year for about 12 years before being successful this year. It just have been fate as timed with the unfortunate diagnosis of ALK+ve, a rare lung cancer for a very good friend and therefore an easy decision to raise money for him.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for a challenge because I had no running experience before. I ran for the childrens society as I grew up in an unsafe home so it’s a charity very close to my heart n
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Tell us a little about why you ran?To raise funds for the MNDA as my wife has recently been diagnosed with this awful disease
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Tell us a little about why you ran?65 children fromRingwood junior school took part in the mini London Marathon raising funds for their school big build
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran in memory of my Mum, who passed away in October 2021 after battling secondary breast cancer.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I've waited nearly 15 years for a London marathon place ❤️
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Tell us a little about why you ran?5 years since I’ve learnt to walk and talk again, I had a brain tumour and still do, so ran with him - Tyrone 5 years exactly after being left in a wheelchair after 3 brain surgeries
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I was lucky enough to gain a place for London Marathon through the ballot. So it was great opportunity to run the Marathon again. I decided to support a local charity called The Brave and Determined Company who provide early prevention life saving counselling to those who may need it. They have been going for just over year and have already provided counselling for over 100 people.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ram for YoungMinds. I ran for my son Riley and friend Trey. Unbelievable experience loved every minute but never again, it was hard work.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?It was on my husbands bucket list to run the London Marathon so he entered the ballot and I did too never thinking I would get a place. He didn’t get in but I decided it was a fantastic challenge I had to do it. I’ve been raising money for Make a Wish and I am so proud to have done it
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Tell us a little about why you ran?First ever marathon to celebrate 70th birthday and raise money over £4000 for Weldmar Hospicecare.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Over the past few years breast cancer has affected too many of my favourite people. They are all fighters and heroes to be battling or have defeated this disease! I have decided to raise money for Breast Cancer Now to give something back to this charity who do so much, in so many ways to help support family members, friends and many many people who need it. Running the London marathon is a huge challenge for me but it will never be as big a challenge as those I love fighting cancer!!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I have a 200km challenge for the RNLI in memory of my brother Dan who passed away in 2020. The London marathon was the 2nd of my 5 marathons for the RNLI.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for weldmar hospisecare as they cared for my mum 7 years ago. Finished the marathon in a time of 4hrs 39mins 34sec
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran to raise money for the Cat Protection
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran because running is my passion, and while doing my passion I am able to help others.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Got a ballot place the first time and wanted to run for myself and my friends.was representing my local running club Run Talk Run and Lonley Goat RC
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran to raise money for Shelter who exist to defend the right to a safe home. I have raised over £2650. Running the London Marathon was an incredible experience.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?My daughter Keely has suffered from asthma since birth with numerous hospital admissions, including ICU. She wanted to run the London Marathon for Asthma & Lung UK to help raise funds & awareness so we decided to run it together as dad and daughter which was incredibly special.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I was lucky enough to get into London through the ballot!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?After a dramatic weight loss 2 years ago I wanted to prove I can do anything I can put my mind too!!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Chasing a personal best after training for 16 weeks, running 60 - 80 miles every week. Hardest training block I have done, but also very rewarding. You learn a lot about yourself as a person, going through the highs and lows, pushing yourself to keep going. It all becomes a mental battle and challenge when your body is telling you to stop or give up. London is a great place to race, the crowds are phenomenal, my family’s support has been incredible, and all of my friends have been amazing and very supportive of me also. Makes that race day result worth all the hard grind.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?This is my 2nd London Marathon getting into both of these Marathons with a qualifying Good For Age time. I ran London in memory of my friends beautiful son Riley Ellis raising money for the Charity YoungMinds. This charity is very close to my heart and this is the 3rd Marathon that I have raised money for them. It is important to keep raising awareness for all the Youngsters out there that are struggling with their mental health.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran it for a charity called Phab
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust as well as the personal challenge
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for the RSPCA charity as they saved my dog years ago and to prove that you don't have to be a top athlete to finish a marathon
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Tell us a little about why you ran?To raise money for Breast Cancer Now in memory of my friend Katy but also to show my teenage kids what their Mum is made of.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Running this iconic marathon in our capital city has always been a dream of mine. I ran for Asthma and Lung UK
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran in the normal ballot and choose Dorset children’s foundation little stars to raise money for a very worthy local charity!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Today I achieved the Guinness World Record for Fastest Marathon Dressed as a Clown (female) This was a personal challenge, a bucket list item.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I entered the ballot in secret naively thinking I could give my place to my husband if I was successful. I soon realised this was an error therefore when I was successful in the ballot I had to decide if I was going to use it myself. Not being a runner this was a big challenge. My good friend Mandy offered to do all the training with me as she felt it was such an amazing opportunity. I signed up to the take part and began ‘couch to 5k’ in July and embarked on our couch to 42k journey. My friend then applied for a charity place so we could train and then run together and between us we have raised over £3,000 for NSPCC and achieved a time of 5:28:28.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I've decided to run for the Wave Project as I really believe in the work they do to support young people all over the country particularly with mental health issues. Surf therapy can now be prescribed on the NHS thanks to them. In this crazy digital age I think it's more important than ever to get out in nature and focus on what really matters. Helping people who need it most get access to the healing powers of the sea with the support of awesome volunteers is a great cause.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I was lucky enough to win a place with my local running club Egdon heath harriers
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I was lucky enough to get in with a good for age entry and wanted to push myself to get a pb. It didn't happen but it doesn't matter when the London crowds are just so incredible. They literally create 'walls of noise'
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Ran in memory of my brother Dan for the RNLI
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Always dreamt of running it and I got to run it for prostate cancer uk, so I was doing it for my grandad who has had it for 17 years now
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I wanted a challenge for myself, not being a serious runner and always had the marathon on my to do list and turning 40 next year I wanted to start getting some of my wishlist items completed. Working for Weldmar Hospicecare I am privileged to see the amazing care and support they provide every day and being able to complete my challenge raising money for Weldmar was a great honour. Not being a natural runner I found the training hard at times but knowing the difference I was making made it all worth while.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I thought I would enter the ballot last year thinking I won’t ever get a place and had to abandon the couch to 5k weeks earlier due to an injury. I supported two charities, the Kingfisher Ward @ DCH and Ronald McDonald House - raising just shy of £1,000 for each
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran the London Marathon for bone marrow cancer in memory of my grandad
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Tell us a little about why you ran?From qualifying with a championship place
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Run for Riley & Trey
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Tell us a little about why you ran?Got into the Ballot and raised money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of my best friends Dad. Managed a 3:27:55 in my 1st ever Marathon!
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran the marathon for YoungMinds in memory of my son Riley and our family friend son Trey who both sadly died in 2022. I want to rause awareness of children struggling with their mental health and want to highlight that there is help and support out there.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of family and friends we lost to Alzheimer’s and to support family living with it
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I ran for Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of family and friends we lost to Alzheimer’s and to support family living with it
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Tell us a little about why you ran?8 years ago, Lexi May grew her wings to a brain tumour at just 8 years old. She spurred me on the whole way and the amazing charity children with cancer have been amazing.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?To raise money for visually impaired children and to show that anyone can do it with hard work and determination. I'm a mum and a grandma and had all my wonderful children and husband supporting me.
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Tell us a little about why you ran?I wanted to raise money for the teenage cancer trust because I work with care leavers and one of my care leavers sadly lost her life to cancer aged 23. I had worked with her for over 5 years and wanted to do something positive out of something so sad :(
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