Last updated 19:39, Thursday, 03 April 2008

A KESWICK husband-and-wife team are among those Cumbrians set to compete in next weekend’s London Marathon.

Children’s health worker Louise Mason-Lodge and husband Paul Lodge, a retained firefighter, hope to raise £3,000 for their chosen charities.

Over the past few years the Keswick couple have completed several gruelling challenges together in aid of various good causes.

They have included the Three Peaks, Hadrian’s Wall and the Great North Run.

This year, they decided to tackle a marathon.

They have been in training for the 26.2-mile challenge since the New Year and are now winding down the training for the event, which takes place on Sunday, April 13.

Louise, 48, Cumbria Primary Care Trust’s children’s health champion, has chosen to run for Phabkids – a charity which helps disabled youngsters.

She said the charity’s ethos is not to treat disabled youngsters differently, but include them in activities with able-bodied children – something she fully supports and hopes to roll out in Cumbria via her job.

Meanwhile Keswick firefighter Paul, 47, who also runs a decorating business, has chosen the Meningitis Research Foundation – a charity close to his heart as his brother lost two children to the disease.

Over the past four months, the couple – who between them have five teenage children from previous marriages – have devoted every minute of their spare time to training for the gruelling event.

This has included four weekly training sessions in the Borrowdale Valley, combining long runs with interval training to build stamina.

Having now completed a 22-mile run, Louise said she is now confident they can do it just under five hours.

“I’d say we’ve been training 10 to 12 hours a week minimum. It really takes over your life,” said Louise.

“I’m looking forward to it and am sure it will be a fantastic experience, though I don’t think I’ll be one of those people who go back again and again. It is a really long way but the main thing is to help two really good causes. That will spur us on.”

To sponsor the couple visit www.justgiving.com/louisemasonlodge.