WITH the London Marathon on Sunday, training is heating up for runners in Wiltshire are in their ‘cooldown’ training period before the big race.

In Chippenham Laura Brown is supporting SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, after the charity helped her and her family after she lost her father in 2005 when she was 10.

She said: “My Mum reached out to SSAFA when we needed support and guidance. They were always there for us when we needed them.”

In Colerne Bernadette Rigby, 55, a retired Army Warrant Officer, is doing the run sponsored for Parkinson UK in the London Marathon. On race day The Fox & Hounds in Colerne is hosting a Big Breakfast to raise money for the charity.

She said: “This will be my fourth London in five years and this is my third for Parkinson’s.”

Also in Chippenham rock band tour manager Graeme Nash will make the London Marathon his third one of the year, having completed Brighton and Manchester with Berlin and Amsterdam to come. He is running to su

In Bradford on Avon resident John Chapman is due to run in a Poppy Factory T-shirt.

The 61-year-old father-of-three has completed the London Marathon before, but this is his first year running for The Poppy Factory, which supports veterans with physical and mental health conditions back into work.

So far, Mr Chapman has raised £1,470 towards his £2,500 target. He says he was inspired after becoming aware of the needs of veterans in and around his home.

He said: “In my town is a homeless man who is ex-Forces. He has post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in Afghanistan. He disappeared for a few months and I haven’t seen him to speak to, but I want to tell him I am running for The Poppy Factory and that help is out there if he wants it.”