A DETERMINED duo have raised thousands by running the London Marathon in a joint charity effort.

Alix Willmore, 25, and her partner Jordan Knight, 26, are recovering from the 26-mile run where they raised £5,000 for St Helena Hospice.

The couple, who live in Heron Way, Dovercourt, both completed the marathon last Sunday in under five hours.

Alix, who works as a speech and language therapist, completed it in four hours 38 minutes and Jordan, a civil engineer, finished the run in four hours 30 minutes.

Alix said: "We started the marathon in different positions and somehow found each other soon after we finished to celebrate.

"We were only eight minutes different in our finishing times.

"Jordan's phone had run out of battery and there were loads of people all over the place near the finish line, so we were lucky to find each other."

The pair decided to run in aid of St Helena Hospice as Alix's best friend's mum was cared for by the charity.

Alix's mum is also a bereavement worker for St Helena Hospice.

She said: "I am quite passionate about supporting families and the charity's out patient work.

"My place in the marathon was for charity and I needed to raise £2,000 which I thought was going to be difficult."

The pair received funding from family, friends and local businesses such as Twenty Twelve Civils Ltd, in Clacton, and Sweet P Floral Design, in Dovercourt.

Prior to the run Alix and Jordan had an intense training regime to get in prime condition for the marathon.

Alix said:"I followed a strict training plan, so the past six month my life has revolved around running and fitness.

"But completing the marathon was a great personal achievement for me and I was really proud."

Since completing the marathon, the duo's legs are still recovering and admit they ache when going up the stairs.

But Alix said she would sign herself up for another marathon in the future to help a local cause again.

To sponsor the pair click here.