WHEN runner Sue Tremlett was offered the chance to run the London Marathon for The Towersey Foundation, a local charity based in Newton Abbot, she jumped at the chance.

Sue, a local resident, is an active member of the Teignbridge Trotters running club and had entered the London Marathon ballot every year since 2013 but without success. The Towersey Foundation for their part were hoping to raise funds to continue their efforts to provide music therapy for those in palliative care.

Although Sue is a regular runner with the Trotters, her training for what was to be her 50th marathon commenced in September 2023 with Parkruns and continuous regular runs throughout autumn and a very wet winter and spring.

In addition to her training programme, Sue put further energy into fundraising. Her local pub, The Ring of Bells in Bishopsteignton, held several quiz nights to raise funds and members of Teignmouth Golf Club were also very generous supporters, along with many friends, colleagues and contacts. The amount Sue raised amounted to over £3400 and far exceeded the expectations of Towersey.

A few niggling injuries caused slight delays to her training in early 2024, but Sue surmounted these problems and arrived on the start line in Greenwich on Sunday, April 21 with some excitement and trepidation.

Decked out in her running vest with the Towersey logo, her training efforts paid dividends and she really enjoyed the experience, finishing in a respectable time of just under four and a half hours.

Having completely the months of training, Sue - not content with having finally run London Marathon - went on to run two ultramarathons: The Lap in the Lake District in May, then her own club’s infamous Dartmoor Discovery in June!

Pictured by Suzie Mills, from left to right, is Peter English (on behalf of Teignmouth GC), Sue, Towersey trustee Tony Brooks-Daw and The Ring of Bells landlord Roger Gallagher.