A GROUP of Davenham mums who were brought together through tragedy joined forces to conquer the London Marathon.

Sarah Gibbs, Karen Murray, Kathryn Porter, Michelle Cowen, Donna Jeffs, Cath Salt and Jo Corwood joined thousands of runners to take on last month's 26-mile event.

Many of the women have been forced to overcome adversity in their lives – some quite recently – so decided to take on the famous marathon to raise money for various charities close to their hearts.

Sarah, who coaches the Vale Royal Athletic Club U11s, took up running following the death of her baby son to cot death 13 years ago.

“I suffered quite badly with panic attacks and depression after it,” Sarah said. “Running really turned things around really.”

Last year Sarah, along with Karen and Kathryn, took on the Manchester Marathon to raise money and awareness for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)

Karen’s dad, Colin Jones, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) when he was 62. Tragically, she learned of his death as she crossed the finishing line last year.

“She actually got the phone call at the finish line, so we couldn’t really celebrate,” Sarah said.

“This year was a bit of closure. We went back to The Hilton and raised a glass to him and had a beer for him.

“That was really the main reason to do the London Marathon, to put him to rest.”

Karen and Kathryn, who both crossed the line after five hours and four minutes, raised money for MNDA.

Sarah, who finished the race in three hours and 46 minutes, raised just short of £2,400 for Asthma UK, following a request from an old friend.

“When we were kids she suffered chronically with asthma attacks,” Sarah said.

“So when we met back up again she asked me if I would consider doing the London Marathon for Asthma UK, and I said yes.”

Jo has had to deal with a very recent tragedy, as six weeks before the marathon her dad died.

She finished the race in four hours and seven minutes and raised money for Cornwall Hospice Care.

Cath raised more than £11,000 for the Prader Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA), a charity that offers support to families experiencing the daily challenges of PWS.

Cath's 6-year-old nephew suffers from the rare genetic condition, which causes life-long learning difficulties and growth abnormalities as well as a constant hunger.

She finished the race in four hours and nine minutes.

Donna raised £1,400 for Dementia Care and Michelle – who was born with a heart defect – raised £2,350 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). She finished in five hours and four minutes.

Sarah said: “There was quite a lot of tragedy between us. So something good came from something bad.”