CREDITON runner, Gretchen Oldland, will be taking part in her third London Marathon on Sunday, April 22.

Gretchen, who is a leader with the Crediton Running Network, has been running for 13 years and this will be her 10th marathon.

Gretchen initially applied for a place with the organisers but was rejected. When the Crediton Running Network was offered a place for one of its members, all the reject letters were put into a hat and Gretchen’s was the lucky one to be picked out.

Her two chosen charities, Hospiscare and The Brain Charity, are close to her heart having lost a friend to a brain tumour.

Hospiscare, a local adult hospice charity, provides care for any type of terminal illness with a professional team of doctors and nurses, for those living in Exeter, Mid and East Devon.

The Brain Charity offers emotional support, practical help and social activities to anyone with a neurological condition and to their family, friends and carers.

There are hundreds of different neurological conditions including stroke, brain injury, dementia, brain haemorrhage, and many rarer conditions.

The charity offer a range of services including, but not limited to: counselling, welfare benefits service, adult learning courses, confidence building courses, support groups for different conditions, employment support, carers advocacy, legal service, supported volunteering opportunities, and a national information and advice service which includes a library open to the public, and a national helpline.

If you would like to support Gretchen sponsor forms are available from the Crediton Running Network, Westward Barbell and Hanlon’s Brewery.

Alternatively visit the Virgin money giving page at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GretchenOldland1 .

To find out more about Gretchen’s chosen charity’s visit: www.thebraintumourcharity.org