Pupils at a Gloucestershire school are putting their best feet forward and giving up their Sunday to get behind their teacher who is running the London Marathon next month.

On Sunday children from St Mark’s Church of England Junior School in Benhall, Cheltenham will run alongside their 46-year-old teacher and mum-of-one Julia Thom as she takes on a 16-mile running challenge as part of her training.

The route, starting and finishing at the school, will be broken down into one-mile stages across a four-mile route. Pupils will run parts of the route alongside Julia, helping to raise vital sponsorship.

Julia is running the London Marathon for two charities close to her heart – local hospice Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court and CLIC Sargent.

Julia said: “Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice gave amazing care to a dear colleague of mine.

“I was so inspired by their care I’ve taken on the Cheltenham Half Marathon in a Sue Ryder running vest in memory of my much missed colleague, raising funds so others can receive the same care she did.

“As part of that I joined the Sue Ryder Team Incredible Facebook group for supporters of the charity, and when I saw the hype and buzz around the Sue Ryder London Marathon runners I made the mad decision to enter the ballot!

“I was shocked and overwhelmed when I received my ‘congratulations magazine’, I knew straight away I would run once again in a Sue Ryder running vest to support the hospice.

“This time, however, I’ll be running in a vest of two halves as I am also running to raise funds for CLIC Sargent who are doing an amazing job of supporting our school and the family of one of our pupils currently undergoing treatment.”

The charity training run starts at 9am on Sunday with Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice providing water and support for the runners, and members of Gloucester Masons marshalling the big-hearted charity runners around the route safely.

To donate to Julia’s Virgin Money London Marathon running challenge visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julesdoeslondon or https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julia-thom6