A HOSPITALISED long-distance runner has expressed his devastation at missing out on the Flora London Marathon on Sunday due to severe illness. Dave Sissens, 35, from High Roding, was admitted to Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford for a minor operation to re

A HOSPITALISED long-distance runner has expressed his devastation at missing out on the Flora London Marathon on Sunday due to severe illness.

Dave Sissens, 35, from High Roding, was admitted to Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford for a minor operation to remove a kidney stone, but complications led to a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.

After spending several weeks bed-bound he has finally recovered and returned to training this week.

However, he has fallen so far back on his training programme that the 26.2-mile run in the capital is no longer a possibility.

He said: "I spent months preparing for the London Marathon and I am devastated that I will not have the chance to compete.

"It would have been my second time after running last year and I was going to be part of the popular Mr Men and Little Miss Team, raising money for Children with Leukaemia. I was really looking forward to it."

Despite his disappointment Dave, an IT programmer, had already raised close to �2000 for the charity and has vowed to come back stronger.

He will now turn his attention to running a marathon in New Forest, Hampshire, in September.

"I will be giving all the money to the same charity and I hope that by the time September arrives I will have at least doubled the amount," he said. "It will be good to make this negative experience into something good."

The New Forest will present Dave with a tougher challenge as it is undulating and he will be running on different terrains, rather than just tarmac.

He chose to run for the Children with Leukaemia charity because a friend's son suffered from the disease and he was impressed by the help the charity gave.

For more information or to donate, call the charity on 020 7404 0808.

A GREAT BARFIELD runner has already busted straight through his target in the run up to the big race.

Tom Wigan, of High Street, has been seen training around the village for the last few months and well wishers have donated over �4000.

He said: "I set a fundraising target of �2000, so I am really delighted."

Running for the Children with Leukaemia charity, he has been training since November. The charity is close to his heart as two of his childhood friends managed to beat the disease when they were children.

To sponsor, visit www.bmycharity.com/wigan

A LENGTHY wait for a London Marathon place has come to an end for a Great Dunmow teacher.

Allie Quayle teaches at St Mary's Primary school during the day and jogs during the evening in preparation for the big day.

She has been trying to gain a place in the race for the past four years. After a successful entry this time around the 26-year-old will be running for the charity, Stop the Traffik, which aims to tackle people trafficking.

Allie said: "I like to run four or five times a week, with a long run at the weekend.

"The training is a killer and my legs are not happy, even my dog Lottie has opted out of the long runs."

Her target is �1000, so to sponsor her visit www.justgiving.com/alliequayle

CHRIS Pickthall has already raised �5500, including some huge donations from family and friends.

He will be running for a Hatfield Broad Oak charity, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, an overseas agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Chris has already run several London Marathons' for the charity. He said: "It is a great cause because they help the poorest of the poor around the world regardless of race or religion. Ideally I would like to get at least �10,000."

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/chrispickthallcpl2009 or send a cheque to Trish Panchaud at CPL Aromas, Barrington Hall, Hatfield Broad Oak, Bishops Stortford, CM22 7LE.

ARE you taking part in the 2009 Flora London Marathon on Sunday? E-mail us your race photos and finishing positions to nick.thompson@archant.co.uk