AFTER months of pounding the pavements, local runners are preparing to take part in Sunday’s London Marathon to raise money for charity.

And one St Albans man who is sure to catch the eye is Andy Halliday, 50, team manager of the GB Men’s Hockey Squad, who is aiming to complete the full 26.2 miles dribbling a hockey ball.

He and head coach Jason Lee, 42, a two-time Olympian, are doing it as part of the Little Dribble, a constituent of the wider Big Dribble initiative which will see a giant hockey ball travel the length of the country to celebrate the sport.

Both the Little Dribble and Big Dribble are raising funds for WellChild, a national charity that helps sick children and their families across the UK.

To support Andy and Jason text BIGD123 to 70070.

St Albans mums Linda Hodgson, of Watling Street, and Anne Peters, of Forge End, are running the London Marathon in aid of The PACE Centre, a school in Aylesbury for children with such conditions as cerebral palsy.

Daniel Oakey, nine, a close friend of the girls, has attended PACE since he was just a year old. The Centre has helped him to achieve some of the things that most people take for granted, like communicating and sitting unaided.

Keen runners Linda and Anne have always dreamed of doing the big race and said it was an honour to be taking part in Olympic year.

They described the team at PACE as inspirational in the way they made a real difference to the children and their families.

To support Linda and Anne go to www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/runAnneandLinda.

Accountant Rowan Tominey is running the London Marathon after a close friend was diagnosed with cancer again after already fighting off the disease several times.

Rowan, 31, of Hatfield Road, St Albans, will be running alongside best friend Alex Harman, 30, to show solidarity with Michael Foreman who was diagnosed with lung cancer again last September.

The disease has also taken the lives of several of Rowan’s family and his fianc�e Carly’s aunt was recently diagnosed with it.

The two men are raising money for World Cancer Research Fund.

Rowan said: “We are both extremely passionate about doing something to show solidarity with Mike and all the other people fighting the illness and to also honour the memory of those we love who have died as a result of cancer.

To sponsor him visit www.wcrf-uk.org/sponsor

Ruth Crowther, 52, from Redbourn is running her first marathon for TeamPB – a collaboration between the Prostate Cancer Charity and Breast Cancer Care.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, all in local hospitals.

Ruth said: “Being diagnosed with breast cancer was a huge shock as I had always had good health and there was no history of cancer in my family. In fact, I’d never before had surgery.

“I’d exercised regularly before I was diagnosed, but the treatment hit me hard, especially the side effects of chemotherapy, and I couldn’t manage much more than a five minute walk. On my trips to the hospital I used to drive past joggers and really couldn’t wait for the day when I could start running again.

Ruth, who is running the marathon with her sister, added: “After a difficult few years for us all, the marathon is something to strive for. It will be a huge achievement and I can’t wait!”

To donate to Team PB go to http://www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Crowther2

Fergal Moane, 38, a secondary school teacher from St Albans, is taking part in his first London Marathon in support of the NSPCC’s ChildLine service.

He said: “I really wanted the 2012 London Olympics year to be memorable by setting myself a stretching challenge and to help others out while doing so.

“I had been working in investment banking for more than 15 years before deciding two years ago to become a teacher. I work with young people every day and it can be amazingly rewarding. However, I know not every child has a happy home life.”

St Albans man Ben Heathcote is running the London Marathon in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.

A TV engineer for St Albans based ADS, he will join thousands of runners on the starting line to show his support for family members who have been affected by breast cancer.

Ben, 25 said: “I chose to run the Virgin London Marathon for Breast Cancer Campaign for a number of reasons. When I was young, my mum’s sister, Auntie Jen, sadly died of breast cancer after a long battle, which obviously affected the whole family. Then six years ago my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, but thankfully following an operation and treatment, she was told her treatment had been a success. I am running in support of both my Auntie Jen and also my Mum.”

Ben added, “My Nan, my Mum and Auntie’s mother, turned 90 in December, 2011, and I would also like to run for her, to show my support for what she and my family have been through.”

To help Ben reach his fundraising target visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/benheathcote1.

Harpenden resident Baljinder Sandhu is hoping she can raise vital funds for research into the causes and treatments of childhood cancer by joining the Mr Men and Little Miss team at the London Marathon.

Baljinder, a teacher, has spent months preparing for the big day and is trying to raise �2,012 for Children with Cancer UK. The Mr Men and Little Miss team is one of the largest teams in the Virgin London Marathon.