A FUNDRAISER has been launched following the cancellation of the seafront marathon in Southend.

A Facebook campaign was launched following the shock announcement on Wednesday that the first Havens Hospices Remember Marathon, due to take on March 12, had been called off.

The run was called off by Southend Council after opposition to a road closure by seafront traders.

Almost 600 runners had already paid £40 to run from Shoebury along Southend seafront where a morning road closure was required for safety reasons.

The charity said it will refund all the runners but some Facebook commentators have indicated they will allow the charity, which includes Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff and Little Havens children’s hospice in Thundersley, to keep the money.

Launching his Facebook fundraiser, Neil Casey who is part of a group of runners who had spent months training for the event, said: “There was so much hard work and effort behind the scenes to get it on in the first place, plus of course significant costs.

"I am hoping not only my friends, the running community, businesses, members of this lovely group, but those as annoyed as me and those who have knowledge or God forbid had to utilise such hospices will donate to help towards their losses. “

Members of running club Flyers Southend met on Wednesday night for a training session which went ahead despite the decision.

Ian Smith, 35, from South Avenue, said: “I have been training since September. I have been a member of Flyers for about seven months and they have really spurred me on. I particularly wanted to do it because it was the Run to Remember – it it was the perfect time and day because it is my dad’s birthday and he died a few years ago.”

Maggie Campbell-Freeman, 57, from Leigh, said: “I am absolutely devastated, I was so upset to find out it had been cancelled. I was so proud that I was going to be able to do a marathon in my home town – it would have been marvellous. We were just cranking up our training too – we were at our peak, getting ready for 20 miles this weekend.”

Catherine O’Keeffe, 53, from Clifton Terrace, in Southend added: “I have been training for three months now – all those long Sunday runs and early starts. We did 18-miles last week and were preparing for 20 miles this weekend. It is such a pity as the event was for Havens which is a good cause and it would have been my first local marathon.”

To donate go to virginmoneygiving.com/NeilCaseyHavensHospices