By Jonathan Isaby
Among the runners competing in the London Marathon this year are two Conservative MPs, Stephen Crabb and Edward Timpson.
They will join more than 35,000 other runners on the 26-mile course through the capital on April 17th.
Stephen, a Government whip and MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, is entering for the third time and will be raising money for the Hope MS Therapy Centre in Neyland, Pembrokeshire, which serves people living with Multiple Sclerosis and other debilitating illnesses.
He tells me:
"The Virgin London Marathon is one of the largest fundraising events in the world and is a great opportunity to help raise money for small local charities. Every year several MPs manage to stagger round the 26 mile course and the atmosphere on the day is incredible. I will be pleased if I finish in under 4 hours, although this is still a long way off Matthew Parris’s record time for an MP of 2 hours 32 minutes in 1985. That was a phenomenally quick time for an MP to run it. My training is going well and is a welcome diversion from the long hours currently spent whipping the Health Bill."
To sponsor Stephen's run in aid of the Hope MS Therapy Centre, go to his fundraising website.
Edward Timpson, PPS to Theresa May and MP for Crewe and Nantwich, will be running his ninth marathon, raising money this year for Parkinson's UK.
He says:
"My first marathon was in 1998 and my best time is 3 hours 47 minutes. Ever since campaign literature during the Crewe & Nantwich by-election in 2008 committed me to running the London Marathon in 2009 I have managed to run every year in aid of both local and national charities including Homestart Cheshire, Supported Community Business based in Crewe and this year Parkinson's UK. An MP's lifestyle is not necessarily conducive to healthy eating and regular exercise, but by challenging myself to stagger 26 miles in one go once a year I hope I go some way to staving off the ravages of Westminster. However, this year I will not be putting my personal best time at risk."
To sponsor Edward's run in aid of Parkinson's UK, go to his fundraising website.
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt - a veteran of nine marathons - had hoped to make this his tenth, but duties as the minister responsible for the Middle East have understandably eaten into training time and stopped him being able to do it.
P.S. In the interests of promoting positive Coalition relations, I should also mention that the Lib Dem MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo Swinson, is running the London Marathon this year in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Click here to go to her fundraising website.
