A LONDON Marathon runner fought illness and injury to raise more than £1,500 for a Winchester charity.

Seb Longman was inspired to run a marathon after volunteering at Blue Apple Theatre in Winchester in 2019. 

He had seen first-hand how the performing arts benefit learning disabled people, and he wanted to do something to help.

Seb had no previous running experience, and his studies keep him very busy but he trained hard for the marathon.

However, three weeks before the race, Seb came down with a nasty virus. He was bedridden for two weeks and lost weight and muscle. He thought he would have to withdraw from the marathon, but he kept training and managed a half marathon the week before the race.

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On the day of the marathon, Seb started off strong. But at mile three, he developed breathing problems and had to stop at the medical tent. He rested for a while and then started running again, but he was now an hour behind schedule.

Seb continued to run, but at mile twelve, his knee gave out. He was in pain, but he refused to give up. He dug deep and kept running, and he finally crossed the finish line in five hours, 56 minutes, and 31 seconds.

Richard Conlon, Blue Apple's artistic director, said: "We at Blue Apple were so heartened and surprised when Seb said that he was going to do the London Marathon on our behalf because it was about four years ago that he was a volunteer with us and that means that he's obviously kept a little place for Blue Apple in his heart and mind and nobody's ever done the marathon for us.

“When we realised he’d been having a tough time with his health before the race it all looked like it was hanging in the balance but he pulled something quite exceptional out of the bag and told me that the thought of the support for Blue Apple was going to keep him going during that challenging and gruelling 26.2 miles. He is a hero to all of us and I hope it spurs other people to take on fundraising challenges for Blue Apple."

To donate to the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/sebastian-longman.