SOME OF them are still trying to catch their breath, and others are already looking forward to their next race.

But for everyone who ran the London Marathon last Sunday it was a day to remember.

We were contacted by dozens of local heroes running for charitable causes, and who are still counting up the totals.

Here are just a few of them.

Peter Dewbery, pictured right, runs ladies-only gym Fitness In Time in Abingdon. Inspired by the stories of some of his clients, he ran the marathon in aid of Abingdon charity Against Breast Cancer He finished the race in 4:34, but most importantly raised £2,436.63 out of a target of £2,500.

Before setting off on the race, he even got a charity chest wax to add an extra £300 to the kitty.

He said: “I’m really happy with it all, it was an amazing experience and the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

“Breast Cancer is obviously an appropriate charity for my business, and my members have been fantastic by running cake sales and all sorts to help me raise money.” If you would like to help him reach his final target, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PeterDewbery Underground, overground, Wombling free, Nick Chan, pictured right, ran an astonishing 26 miles dressed as a Womble.

Finishing in five hours and 39 minutes, Mr Chan, a PhD student at Oxford University, raised £1,835 for Christian charity Jesuit Missions.

He said: “There were times in the middle were I just closed my eyes and hoped that the next time I opened them I would be at the finish line.”

Before the big day, he had only run 12km in the Womble suit, although he had trained further without it.

“The first 10 miles were actually fairly comfortable, and after that it was half running and half walking,” he added.

“But the crowd started singing the Wombles theme tune which gave me a lift.”

To help Mr Chan reach his target of £2,000, go to uk.virginmoneygiving. com/nickchan.

Freddie Wilcox, 20, from Wallingford, ran for his dad, who has a form of muscular dystrophy.

He was one of 100 runners racing to raise £250,000 for The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, and he personally raised £2,025, smashing his target of £1,500.

After crossing the finish line in four hours, ten minutes he said: “It was the toughest challenge of my life and I feel really proud to have completed the race.

“My muscles may be feeling sore now but they will recover in a few days.

“I know that all the hard work was all for the benefit of current and future generations of people whose muscles are weakening and wasting owing to muscular dystrophy.”

His justgiving page is still open at justgiving.com/Freddie-Wilcox.

Eileen Naughton from Didcot was running her sixth London Marathon, but still felt as nervous as the first time.

She finished in three hours 54 minutes, and also raised £642 for Children With Cancer. She said: “Wow, what an amazing day. I was like a spring lamb ready to take on the 26.2 miles, but the heat even at 10am was worrying.

“I was running for Children With Cancer, so whenever I felt like I could give no more, I thought what they have to go through and that kept me going.

“As an Olympic ceremony volunteer I had a huge support team: drummers from the opening ceremony at mile 24, dancers at mile 22, and games makers singing at miles 12 and 23.

“It was brilliant to see my Mum and Dad at mile 10, and a whole coach of Didcot Runner supporters all around the course.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all the people from Didcot who have supported, encouraged and donated over the past six years.”

You can still sponsor Ms Naughton at justgiving.com/2013cancermarathon.

Father-of-two Ben Stagg, from Abingdon, ran for his four-year-old son Woody, who has a rare, incurable disease.

Angelman Syndrome is a chromosome disorder that causes severe learning difficulties. Those with the condition might also have seizures, limited mobility, little or no speech and disturbed sleep.

His sponsors have so far given him a grand total of £4,430 for support charity ASSERT, and his employers, Kidlington based Elsevier, has promised it will double all the donations made from its own staff. On Sunday he finished in four hours 11 minutes.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant.

“I had picked up an injury in my foot a few weeks before and to be honest if it hadn’t been for all my sponsors I might not have run it.

“So, my foot really started hurting at 18 miles but the crowd were really supportive and kept me going.”

To help Mr Stagg raise a little bit more go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for Ben Stagg.