Fundraisers across the district are in the final stages of training for this year’s London Marathon, hoping to raise money for their chosen charities.

Paul Holinski, from Shipley, is running Sunday’s 26.2-mile course in aid of the MS Society. Mr Holinski works at Morrisons’ head office in the cake shop and bakery section of the development M Kitchen.

Lisa Wright, from Gomersal, will be tackling her 13th marathon and hopes to beat the world record for running the fastest time dressed as a playing card, meaning she will have to finish in under four hours, 30 minutes.

“I’ve chosen to run for Heart UK because I have friends and family who suffer from high cholesterol. We only recently found out that my husband has it, so this has made me more determined to help Heart UK.”

Val Kerr, of Langbar, and daughter Emily, 21, are taking part in aid of Spinal Research.

She said: “We would like to try and get as much publicity for this charity as possible as there are now four people in the Ilkley area who have suffered devastating spinal injury, and the work of this charity offers some hope that a cure may one day be found for spinal cord injury.”

Keighley News editor Richard Parker is tackling the London Marathon to support the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

He has been in training since September, but a catalogue of injuries forced him to start from scratch in January.

The 40-year-old, who has raised more than £2,000 for Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, said: “I still suffer from breaking my spine as a teenager, which has indirectly led to calf, hamstring, knee and hip injuries. There’s not much left in good working order!”

Glusburn woman Melissa Joy will run in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, and 43-year-old Robert Morrisroe, from Keighley, will also raise money for Manorlands.

Baildon Runners member Debbie Bland, of Menston, will support Wakefield Hospice in what will be her 11th marathon.

Ilkley Grammar School teacher Tim Milburn is raising money and the profile of Get Kids Going when he runs his first marathon.

Marc Forrest will be supporting several organisations - the Alzheimer’s Society, Mind, Stroke Association and Yorkshire Cancer Research - when he runs the course and Steve Johnson, of Drighlington, is running on behalf of St John Ambulance.