THEY braved blisters, twisted ankles and side stitches.

Tens of thousands of people laced up their trainers and raced through the streets of London as part of the UK’s most iconic race.

Record numbers took part in this year’s London Marathon raising millions for charities with 39,140 people finishing the race by 6pm.

Among the runners were dozens of people from Hampshire including Tara Russell and Heidi Rehman who completed the gruelling 26.2 mile route through the capital, raising more than £1,200 for the Wessex Haven in Titchfield which provides emotional and physical support for people with breast cancer.

Their running efforts come as the charity prepares for a glamorous masquerade ball at East Horton Golf Club on May 6 which is set to raise even more cash.

Meanwhile Dad-of-two Karl Swanborough, 32, from West End who works at the Daily Echo raised more than £1,000 when he completed the London Marathon in five hours for Children with Cancer UK.

Matthew Cole, 43, from Waltham Chase ran the 26.2 miles in 3 hours 57 minutes raising £1,200 for Epilepsy Action, the charity that supported his daughter Freya when she started having seizures.

Sam McCarthy of Taylor Made Computer Solutions completed the race in 4 hours 57 minutes raising more than £2,248 for Naomi House and Jacksplace. His efforts were part of the Fareham IT firm’s fundraising for the children and young people’s hospices which were named their charity of the year.

Tim Bradley, 58, from New Milton raised more than £1,000 for Parkinson’s UK when he ran the route in 3 hours 59 minutes and Dave Sanders, 29, from Regents Park, Southampton, raised another £1,500 for the charity when he completed the race in 4 hours 23 minutes in memory of his nan.

And Richard Wake, 39, also from Regents Park, Southampton raised more than £1,900 for Asthma UK, running the marathon in 5 hours 18 minutes.

The runners are still raising cash for their causes.

  • To support Sam, Tim or Karl, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com and search for their names To donate to Matthew’s appeal visit justgiving.com/Matt-Cole10.
  • Or to help the Wessex Haven team visit thehaven.org.uk or for tickets to the ball call 01329 559290.
  • To support Sam visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=SamMcCarthy1
  • To donate to Matthew’s appeal visit justgiving.com/Matt-Cole10
  • To help Tim visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=TimBradley&faId=679226&isTeam=false
  • To sponsor Karl visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/karl-swanborough-SAVMLMBONDS3332016-4592
  • Or to help the Wessex Haven team visit thehaven.org.uk or for tickets to the ball call 01329 559290.