Isle of Wight runners will be taking to the street of London this weekend, for the annual London Marathon.
It gets underway at 9.30am on Sunday, April 23.
Here, we showcase the Islanders to watch out for - all of who are running for worthy local charities and organisations.
Scroll down to meet them and for their individual fundraising links, and help support their causes...
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Liz Parkes
Keen runner, Liz Parkes, won her place via a ballot, after seven years of trying.
It will be her second marathon (she ran the Brighton race in 2017) and she has completed several 10ks, a 10 mile and some half marathons.
For the last two years, she has been coached by Darren, at Vectis Academy.
She is running in aid of the Isle of Wight Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association charity.
In 2018, Liz lost her dad to MND.
She describes him as "selfless, kind and caring. A true gentleman. An amazing dad to me and Fran, and husband to my mum, for almost 50 years."
Read more: Isle of Wight road runner Ross completes world famous Boston Marathon
Sarah Crabb
Sarah Crabb will be running the marathon in aid of the East Cowes-based Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
After a decade of trying, she gained her place via the ballot.
She said: "This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is such a wonderful charity."
Sandrine Dartigues and Jane Karabasic
Sandrine Dartigues and Jane Karabasic are running for the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.
Sandrine, who won her place through the ballot, has experienced anxiety and OCD and regular running helped her recovery.
She said: "If somebody would have told me, four or five years ago, when I was struggling with my mental health, I would run the London Marathon in 2023 I would never have believed it.
"I am very excited but definitely out of my comfort zone.
"I hope the funds raised for the Isle of Wight Youth Trust will help more young people who need support and give them hope for the future."
Meanwhile, this will be Jane’s second marathon – despite having said 'never again', after completing the very hilly Isle of Wight Marathon.
Jane secured her place through her employer, Tolchards and she choose to support the Isle of Wight Youth Trust as a way to say thank you for the support it has given her family.
Fundraising and communications manager, Michelle Moorman, said: "We are extremely grateful to Sandrine and Jane.
"All funds raised will be used to directly support the mental health and wellbeing of young Islanders at a time when they need us the most."
Sarah Tyrell-Jones
Sarah Tyrrell-Jones is running the marathon for the second time.
She is Isle of Wight community fundraiser for the charity Breast Cancer Now.
She said: "I'm very nervous, but excited."
Iain Seabrook
Iain is a local roofer and retired footballer and current youth football coach.
He is running for St Catherine's school.
Also running is Arielle Elton-Walters, who recently completed her 500th parkrun.
Wayne Matthews
This will be Wayne's third marathon and he will take on the course, fresh from October's Isle of Wight event, which he completed in 3 hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds.
Beverly Capon and Becky Egerton
Beverly Capon - a seasoned marathon runner, as this will be her fourth, is running to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.
Becky Egerton will be collecting cash for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, at her first ever marathon.
Pictured here, at The Needles half marathon, both of them say this will be their last.
Kate Couch
This year's London Marathon has been four years in the making for Kate Couch, 48, who is doing the race as one of two long-distance events to raise money for East Cowes-based charity, MAD-Aid.
She applied for a ballot place in April 2019 and couldn’t believe her good fortune when she got chosen for the 2020 London Marathon, at only the fourth time of trying.
Training went well, but disaster struck in March 2020, when the nationwide lockdown due to the Covid pandemic forced the event's postponement.
Kate chose to switch her entry to April 2022, which was then moved to October 2022.
Kate was ready to run but tested positive for Covid-19 in the week of the marathon - which meant shecouldn’t even travel up to London to watch it.
She said: "I am now very much in last chance saloon – I must take part in this year’s event, or I will lose my place.
"I did the Brighton Half Marathon at the end of February in a reasonable time, but unfortunately, I have had a virus recently which forced me to stop running for a few weeks and has wrecked my training plan.
"I don’t expect to be very quick – but at least I will finally be able to take part!”
She has previously run two virtual London Marathons.
She joined the MAD-Aid team at the beginning of this year and is raising money for the charity, which is currently supporting Ukrainians and Moldovans in need.
Lucy DeVille
Isle of Wight Road Runner, Lucy DeVille, 70, won a Good For Age place for this year's event and will be raising money for The Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy.
The charity aims to improve patients' survival rates and their quality of life, for a wide range of cancers.
Leslie Newton
Leslie is running in aid of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which is a charity very close to her family's heart.
She told the County Press they have helped three members of her family - her mum, auntie and cousin.
Lel's mum Linda Newton died in March 2021. The air ambulance team gave the family vital support and some more precious time with her.
In memory of Linda, mum-of-four Lel took up running and won her place through the ballot.
Matt Jacobs
Experienced runner, Matt Jacobs, is competing for the Ryde Harrierson Sunday.
He has completed many half marathons and two full marathons - but this will be his first time in London.
Hollie Colebrook
Hollie thought it would take years to win a place at the London Marathon so she started applying early.
Instead, it was first time lucky.
She thought the event would return in October - but instead it was shiftd back to April.
She said: "I was very shocked to be accepted first time.
"I have only had a few months to train.
"I have had a few setbacks, but am still determined to complete it."
She is raising money for Mountbatten, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air ambulance and Pet Blood Bank UK.
Michelle Martin
This is Michelle Martin's first marathon and she tells us she is both nervous and excited.
She won her place in 2019, but faced delays due to Covid-19.
She is a member of Ryde Harriers and is raising money for Seaclose swimming club, for the Island Games swim team.
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