Five to make capital gains for charity

Kerry Stoten, Mercedes Hamilton, brothers Deepak and Pardeep Chand and Alistair Sutton are lacing up their trainers for the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 6 April, in aid of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) Charity.

They will be part of a record 20,000 runners on the 13.1-mile Whitehall to Trafalgar Square route.

Eighteen months ago, secondary school teacher Kerry, 41, became People Development and Medical Leadership Trainer at New Cross Hospital, running compassionate and medical leadership training.

“I still get to teach, but it’s adults I’m leading now rather than children,” said the mum of one, who will be accompanied by husband James McFarland, 49, their seven-year-old son Danny and best friend Liz Cartwright.

Kerry has also been a patient at RWT with ulcerative colitis, and is hoping to raise £500.

“I only started running in my mid-30s. I feel very proud,” she added. “My best friend running the London Marathon inspired me to do a half marathon.”

Kerry wants to break three hours after clocking 3:03 in the Great Birmingham Run in 2023.

Deepak, 43, wants revenge after Pardeep, 42, beat him in last year’s event.

Directorate Manager of Ophthalmology at RWT, Deepak is aiming to break two hours in his third half after clocking 2:04 last year.

“Pardeep beat me with minimal training so now it’s my turn!” said the dad of two. “I’ll try to keep up with him anyway.”

Deepak has already raised almost £550 but wants to challenge the £1,000 he raised last year and £1,200 the year before.

“I’ve seen a lot of the great work the charity does, but it’s also about trying to stay healthy,” added the former smoker, teetotal since January.

As for his brother’s chances of beating him, Pardeep, who is hoping to raise £500-plus, said: “We’ll see about that!

“I want to test my limits. Last year I finished in 1:58 and I’m aiming for 1:30-1:45.”

It will be the IKEA car park manager’s second half, and the father of three added: “The money will help someone less fortunate.”

HGV driver Alistair Sutton’s training has stalled due to a back injury at work five weeks ago.

But the two-time full marathoner, 53, who has been having treatment from a chiropractor and physio, is determined to get round the course, supported by New Cross Hospital Healthcare Assistant partner Laura Green, 40, and her two daughters.

Inspired by his late step father Ian Turley, who died at 77 of pancreatic cancer at New Cross, the dad of two wants to break three hours and raise £300.

Mum of two Mercedes, 34, a Staff Nurse at New Cross Hospital, wants to raise £350 and will be supported by her parents and children.

“Running has been great for general fitness and stress relief,” said Mercedes, who is hoping to finish in 3:00-3:30.

Amie Rogers, Fundraising and Lead Digital Engagement Officer for The RWT Charity, said: “We’re really excited and proud of all of our runners and hope they can raise lots of money.”

Donations can be made to the following pages:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/kerry-stoten-1714673667918, https://www.justgiving.com/page/mercedes-hamilton-1724298576270, https://www.justgiving.com/page/deepak-chand-2, https://www.justgiving.com/page/pardeep-chand-4 and https://www.justgiving.com/page/alistair-sutton-1724746245650