Marathon effort is a fancy way to run

Cat DAscendis, who lives in Bickershaw, is aiming for a world record as the fastest female marathon runner dressed as a gingerbread man.

She has already run more than 30 marathons, with a personal best of 3:22, and hopes to beat the record of four hours.

Cat, 34, has been practising by running in her gingerbread costume, including at Pennington Flash parkrun and the Wigan half marathon.

She is running in honour of a friend suffering from complex regional pain syndrome and raising money for charity Burning Nights.

To sponsor her, go to mydonate.bt.com/charities/burningnightscrpssupport.

Neil Tyrer, 40, will take on the marathon dressed as Forrest Gump.

He claims the film character was on the autistic spectrum and decided to dress as him as he is raising money for Ambitious About Autism.

Neil, who lives in Pemberton, is supporting the charity as his stepson was diagnosed with ADHD, while his cousin’s three children are on the autistic spectrum.

To sponsor Neil, go to www.justgiving.com/neiltyrer40.

The London marathon will be broadcast on BBC2 and BBC1 from 8.30am. Wheelchair racers start at 9am, elite women at 9.20am and the elite men and mass start is at 10am.

Related articles:

Gingerbreak man to run London marathon

Charity cash rolls in for Forrest runner