A COUPLE from St Austell will be spending Sunday, April 27, together – tackling the London Marathon.

Steph and Gareth Netherton, neither of whom are regular long-distance runners, will be taking on the 26.2-mile course to raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care.

They are running the marathon in memory of their close friend Roger Ryman, the former head brewer at St Austell Brewery.

Gareth said: “I’ve been kind of dragged into the marathon. I entered the public ballot expecting to be rejected and got in on my first attempt! Then Steph entered for Cornwall Hospice Care and I joined her.

“Roger died at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice. It still feels raw that he isn’t here. He was a strong guy, really well known and really well loved. This challenge has given me my chance to give something back for the care he received at the end of his life.

“Gig rowing is where me and Roger met. Then covid came along and stopped me rowing and that’s when cycling became my passion. I’m not a runner but I have to be one now as I’ve got 26.2 miles to do!

“The midweek short runs aren’t too bad, they’re over in 30 minutes, but it’s the long runs of 15 and 16 miles that give you time to start thinking and that’s when I think of Roger and the hospice and I realise running is the easy bit.”

Steph said: “Gig rowing was always my sport until the covid lockdown and then, like so many others, I turned to running. However, this is my first long-distance event.

“Because we exercise regularly, some people think it’s easy for us but it’s hard and you have to rely on thoughts about why you’re doing it to keep you going.”

The couple have a fundraising page on JustGiving.