A group of London Marathon runners raised more than £180,000 for a children’s hospice charity.

A total of 82 Shooting Star Chase runners took to the streets for the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, April 23.

The team was comprised of four bereaved parents, 28 runners with a family connection to the charity, 18 corporate partners and several other local supporters.

Ali Najefi, from Kingsbury, completed the marathon in five hours and 27 minutes in support of his son Adnan has genetic life-limiting condition Mucolipidosis type 2 and receives support from the charity’s Hampton-based hospice.

He said: “The marathon was painful but good, and the atmosphere was fantastic.

“I did it for my son Adnan – who gave me a big lift when we saw him waving to us on the course.

“He goes to day care and we stay over at the hospice for a break and they’ve been so good to us.

“I ran with Adnan’s uncle and another friend, and we’re all proud to do this for Shooting Star Chase today – it’s nice to be able to give something back.”

Karen Peffer, Challenge Events Fundraiser at Shooting Star Chase added: “Our team of London Marathon runners are unbelievably inspirational and we couldn’t be more proud of them for taking on such a tough event, and raising a record amount for Shooting Star Chase”