Robin Hood Marathon

Everyone taking part in the Robin Hood Festival of Running will have a story to tell. Below are the stories of just some of the people taking part.

Lisa Abbs from Blidworth is running for Butterfly North-East, a thyroid cancer charity.

Lisa had the disease last year, she didn't feel too well in January and says the prospect of running the marathon has kept her focused:

"At the beginning of the year I hadn't felt that well but it's something that's motivated me and got me through the year...

"The training has been difficult. I've never done any exercise, the last time I did any proper exercise would have been at school!"

Spartans

Matt Wallace and his friends will be dressed as Spartan warriors when they take part in the half-marathon - they'll even be towing a chariot, designed by local students.

Matt says Sarah is "making fantastic progress and the doctors are very pleased with her."

They hope to raise money for the Lymphoma Association.

Alan Percival is running for the Encephalitis Society in memory of his late wife Celia, who died from the illness. Alan says:

"Running in the Robin Hood Marathon is achieving a goal for myself having had a long period of stress dealing with my wife and daughter.

"Running has allowed me to find something for me to do that I enjoy."

James Peters has lost 8.5 stone (120 lbs) since October 2006. 

He has also managed to turn himself into something of an athlete and will be running the half marathon.

This time last year he was unable to walk to the top floor of Embankment House and weighed a hefty 23 stone.

James has chosen to support a Nottingham based charity called The Friends of Kadzinuni which aims to raise money for a Kenyan village.

Diary

Ian Hind will be running the Robin Hood Festival of Running Marathon in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK and in memory of his Step-Mother Jill, who died suddenly last December from Pancreatic Cancer. 

Listen to Ian Hind's diary: