MORE than £15,000 has been pledged for the Teenage Wing at Claire House Children's Hospice by a team of 26 runners who completed this year's Flora London Marathon.

Therunnersall finishedthe26.2mile course, despite suffering exhaustion and in some cases, considerable pain including runner Darren Grubb, who could barely walk after sustaining an injury at 14 miles.

Thinking of his young cousin who died recently and of the money he could raise for Claire House, he soldiered on and was supported by the other team members.

Veteran runner Richard Horner, who has completed 50 marathons was also hampered by injury. He ran in the first London Marathon 25 years ago andthis wastobehis last,withatarget of 2 hours 50 minutes.

Unfortunately at 11 miles he pulled a hamstring but kept running to finish in three hours and three minutes.

Maureen Ellison, fundraiser at Claire House who co-ordinated the event, said; 'It was so moving to hear of the determination of the team to finish, in the face of such adversity.'