Auntie and niece raise £4k after completing London Marathon

Rebecca Buckles, from Dovercourt, ran the London Marathon for the Spinal Injuries Association for her father and uncle who suffered a spinal cord injury.

Rebecca said it was a “humbling event” because she saw other people in wheelchairs and with prosthetic legs completing the marathon “which puts it into perspective”.

Rebecca, who was running her first ever full marathon, completed the race at five hours 59 minutes which was a “bit slower than anticipated” but still a big success.

She said: “I’ve been running for about eight years, having done half marathons before, so it is a big step-up.

“I’m running for those who cannot.”

Elated - Rebecca Buckles and Jacqui Kettle (Image: Submitted)

Rebecca’s recovery is also going well with only “a few minor aches” which is much better than she expected and added that she wants to do a marathon again “just not this week.”

Rebecca’s aunt Jacqui Kettle ran the London marathon to raise money for Anthony Nolan in memory of her dad who she lost to blood cancer two years ago.

Jacqui who completed the race in five hours 30 minutes said “when you get the past the mile 20 stage, all you want to do is just finish the race.

“I felt like I had nothing left for the last six miles and to be honest it was an exhausting six miles."

Jacqui also praised the people from the Anthony Nolan group for their “amazing support” including the four points during the 26.2 mile race where they cheered their runners on.

Happy - Jacqui Kettle after finishing the London Marathon (Image: Submitted)

A WhatsApp group was also set up for all the Anthony Nolan runners, with people still sharing pictures of the “amazing experience.”

Jacqui revealed that the day after she “walked around with the medal while walking her dog” but is also “full of aches and pains”.

She added: “Now you have done it you feel like you have achieved something from it, only 0.01 per cent of the world population has done it this year.

“I’m quite chuffed at 66 to have achieved it."

As of writing, Rebecca has raised £2075 and Jacqui has raised £2,000, both reaching their targets.