The London Marathon is one of the most emotive events in the sporting calendar because many participants - including those from the Island - do it for charities close to their hearts.

This year, on Sunday, October, 3, there was both a live race in London and a virtual event, so more runners were able to take part than ever.

Scroll through our gallery of photos above to see more pictures of the charity runners from the Island.

Completing the marathon in 6 hours 27 minutes, Emily Galt, from Ryde, suffered a number of injuries during the second half of her run, so had to walk the last eight miles.

Emily said she was: "Disappointed to not get there time I was aiming for, but glad I finished despite the injuries."

Emily ran for Diabetes UK, and has raised more than £3,000.

To support Diabetes UK click here.

Danny Sturgeon, who is currently living in Caterham, but has links with the Island, completed the marathon in 4 hours 43 minutes.

He likes to encourage people to think about the little charities, not just the big ones.

Danny ran for The Family Holiday Association, raising £1,400 at the time of writing.

To support The Family Holiday Association click here.

The Bay CE School in Sandown cheered on their PE teacher Gareth Bricknell, who finished up with an impressive 3 hours 44 minutes.

Mr Bricknell ran in support of The Wight Brainy Bunch, and has raised £3,300 for the small Island charity.

To support The Wight Brainy Bunch click here.

Sarah Cass, from Ryde, has ran on and off for the past 17 years, but had never ran further than ten miles before starting her marathon training.

She crossed the finish line at 4 hours 11 minutes, and has raised £4,000 for Macmillan.

Sarah said: “What an amazing emotional day.”

To support Macmillan click here.

Beverley James, from Lake, ran the live race in aid of Cats Protection Isle of Wight, raising £1,800 at the time of writing.

She finished up with a time of 5 hours 26 minutes.

Beverley said: "It was an absolute wonderful experience, the other runners were amazing and the crowd was fantastic, we had a priest giving blessings with holy water in full attire, Scottish bag pipes, morris dancing, singers, singers with bands, singers with full orchestras, DJs it was a truly wonderful experience."

To support Cats Protection Isle of Wight click here.

James Coleman, from Sandown, took part in the live race supporting the national hearing loss charity, RNID - and has raised £3,400.

He has hearing problems, including hereditary degenerative hearing loss and tinnitus, and also suffered a massive Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) a few years ago.

James completed the marathon in 4 hours 22 minutes, and said: "I usually manage a marathon in 3 hours 45 minutes, but this year's event was so crowded it was more about soaking up the atmosphere."

To support RNID click here.

Alan Martin, from Ryde, ran the live race in aid of COSMIC, the Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care at St Mary’s in Paddington.

He finished in 5 hours 35 minutes, and has raised £1,200 for the charity, which is close to his heart.

To support COSMIC click here.

Gillian Shaw, from Newport, restarted running about five years ago, aged 65 - before that she hasn't run since leaving school.

She completed her marathon in 5 hours 45 minutes, and ran the race for Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

Gillian has raised £1,300, to support the charity and the case they provide to their patients.

Gillian said: "An absolutely amazing day and superb support."

To support Mountbatten Isle of Wight click here.

Craig Jaspers, from Cowes, was one of a number of Islanders who made up their own route for the virtual race.

Until 18 months ago, Craig had never run more than 5km and this was hist first ever marathon.

He finished up with a time of 6 hours and 8 minutes, supporting Dementia UK by raising over £1,000.

Craig said: "I'm very happy for my first ever marathon and I got so much support from my family, friends, and work mate at AJ Wells with encouragement and donations."

To support Dementia UK click here.

Katy Simpson, who lives in Frome, Somerset, ran the virtual event in aid of the Epilepsy Society.

Her nephew, Albie, who lives on the Island, was recently diagnosed with the condition.

She completed the marathon in 5 hours 32 minutes, and has raised over £1,500 for the special cause.

To support the Epilepsy Society click here.

Lisa Hendy, of Newport, ran the virtual race in aid of Isle of Wight Daisy Chains - raising £330.

She had never run a marathon before, but had completed The Great South Run and Walk the Wight before.

Lisa completed her marathon in 5 hours and 41 minutes, by completing 14 laps of Parkhurst Forest.

To support Isle of Wight Daisy Chains click here.

Debbie Shrubsole, from Totland Bay, ran her first ever marathon virtually, running up Five Barrows on the Tennyson trail.

She supported Leukaemia Care, and has raised £355, completing the marathon in 5 hours 48 minutes.

To support Leukaemia Care click here.

Sarah Holmes, of Shanklin, ran her 22nd marathon and finished in 4 hours 24 minutes.

She ran in support of mental health charity Mind, raising £1,600 at the time of writing.

Sarah said: "The crowd were amazing all the way round.

"It made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck."

To support Mind click here.

Martin Carr, from Cowes, ran his 15th London Marathon is support of ActionAid.

He has raised £4,400 for his supported charity, finishing in 4 hours 31 minutes.

As well as completing this years London Marathon, Martin will also be running at the Isle of Wight Marathon this weekend.

To support ActionAid click here.

Carla Haines, a former Ventnor Middle School and Sandown High Student, also took on the marathon and completed the race in 4 hours 53 minutes.

She was running in aid of the Alzheimer's Society in memory of her grandpa, Alan, and grandad, Len, and has so far raised £1,530.

She said: "I was inspired by my dad, Paul Judge, and husband, Rich, to run regularly recently and felt proud to hold the IW flag in London, in support of my formative days on the Island."

To support the Alzheimer's Society, click here.

Congratulations to everyone who raised money, for incredible causes, by completing the London Marathon 2021!