OXFORD city councillor Mark Lygo has set his sights on finishing this year’s London Marathon in under four hours.

But the father-of-two admits he will be a happy man if he finishes at all. Mr Lygo, 35, of Valentia Road, Headington, is running the marathon to raise money for Helen and Douglas House hospice, which cares for seriously ill children and young adults.

He said: “It’s an amazing charity. Running a race is nothing in comparison to what the staff do. It’s tough work, but it must be very rewarding.”

Mr Lygo, who will be supported by partner Louise Wilkins, 33, and their two children Sam, eight, and Emily six, on the big day, is a keen sportsman.

He said: “I’ve always kept fit through various sports and I took part in the Reading Half Marathon three years ago after my dad died of cancer.

“But soon afterwards I injured my knee and I only really started getting back into shape about six months ago.

“I ran the Reading Half Marathon this year. It was a very hot day and I did struggle. My time was one hour 42 minutes.

“When it comes to the London Marathon, I just want to get to the finishing line to be honest – I know it’s going to be hard.

“I would like to complete it in four hours, but if it’s five or six hours, so be it. I just hope it’s not going to be too hot.”

To support Mr Lygo, who is aiming to raise £1,600, visit justgiving.com/cllrmarklygo For most entrants, the London Marathon is a race apart, but for solicitor Jacob Rickett, it is just one of four and a half marathons he is running this year as part of a 10-race challenge in aid of Arthritis Care.

The 27-year-old, of Hedgemead Avenue, Abingdon, began running for the charity in November 2007 when he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis – a form of inflammatory arthritis which affects the lower back.

It is a condition which particularly affects men in their 20s and 30s.

Mr Rickett, an Oxford United fan, said: “Initially, I was in denial about the diagnosis and took up running to prove there was nothing wrong with me.

“But I came to my senses, came to terms with it, and found the information I needed to move forward and get on with managing my condition instead of denying its existence.

“Running is something I use to help manage my condition. It makes me feel that I am in control – not the arthritis.

“We don’t have to let arthritis get the upper hand, there’s always something we can do to take our lives back – that’s the Arthritis Care message.”

Mr Rickett, left, has raised £990 of his £2,000 target.

Since April last year, he has completed the Stratford Half Marathon, the Wollaton Park 10km, the Nottingham Robin Hood Marathon, the Abingdon Marathon, the Edwinstowe Christmas 10km and the Reading Half Marathon.

In September, he is taking part in the Atlantic Coast Challenge – three marathons in three days.

To sponsor Mr Rickett, visit justgiving.com/jacobrickett1 Administration assistant Eileen Naughton is gearing up for her second London Marathon on the trot and is hoping to beat her time of five hours.

The 27-year-old, of Wessex Road, Didcot, raised £2,800 for the Meningitis Trust last year.

She said: “People at work think I’m mad doing it again. I never used to be sporty, it wasn’t until two years ago when I got ill with a blood disorder that I thought I ought to get fit.

“I did the OX5 Run and then I got hooked. Exercise makes you feel better because you’re getting outside and meeting people.”

Miss Naughton, who works at Focus DIY in Didcot, is hoping to raise £2,000 for Children with Leukaemia.

She has been training for months at Milton Park’s Park Club.

She said: “I’ve got new trainers and they are well worn in now. I’m definitely the fittest I’ve ever been and I feel great.”

The former Didcot Girls’ School pupil also has her sights set on a London to Paris bike ride later this year.

She said: “I thought I better do something different.”

To sponsor Miss Naughton, visit leukemia.org or call 0207 404 0808.

When matron Teresa Wilson signed up to run the London Marathon on April 26, she didn’t have to look far for a charity.

She has worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for more than 20 years, mostly specialising in cardiac work, so picked the new Heart Centre, which is due to open at the hospital later in the year.

The £29m centre will provide single ensuite rooms for patients, and state-of-the-art equipment.

Meanwhile, a £2m campaign is being launched to fund additional equipment and facilities, including a garden and gym, not financed by the NHS.

Mrs Wilson said: “I’m hoping my marathon will inspire other staff and local people to help us.

“It would be fantastic if I got plenty of people sponsoring me to make all my training worthwhile. I’m out at least four times a week, and often I’m the only person I see running – especially when the weather is bad.”

To date, Mrs Wilson has raised £945 of her £2,000 target.

To support her, visit justgiving.com/teresawilson13 Grove father-of-two Ian Brennan is running the London Marathon dressed as Scooby Doo to help but new play equipment for Millbrook Primary School.

And he has already raised £725 of his £1,250 target.

Mr Brennan, 43, below, of Churchward Close, Grove, said he had run in four London Marathons, but never in fancy dress.

He said: “I thought it would be fun to dress up to help the fundraising effort.

“I went out running in the outfit last weekend and lots of people loved it. Lots of people ignored it, too!

“It will get quite hot on the day because only my hands and face are free – the rest is fully covered. I will drink lots of water and take my time.”

Mr Brennan chose to support Millbrook because his wife Alison is chairman of the school’s parent-teacher association and daughter Eloise, six, is a pupil.

Mrs Brennan, 43, said: “The outdoor play area, which all the kids love, was condemned by a health and safety inspector and pulled down last year.

“We are replacing it bit by bit.”

To support Mr Brennan, justgiving.com/ianbrennan tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk