A reporting duo are attempting to raise £10,000 for a children’s charity by running this year’s London Marathon.

Nick Thompson and Dan Barden, left, who work for the Saffron Walden Reporter and Dunmow Broadcast, are hoping to break the impressive barrier in aid of Children with Leukaemia.

The Archant Herts and Cambs journalists are already into the swing of training and keeping a dairy of their efforts for the titles.

They are both hoping to complete the 26.2-mile course in under 4hrs 30mins on 25 April.

Nick said: “Leukaemia is the biggest childhood cancer and this charity does a fantastic job. It is massively important in terms of researching cures and treatments for the disease.

“We are very excited about the challenge ahead and we are urging the community to come together and support us, and the charity, and help us to meet our target of £10,000.”

The pair have already enlisted the help of the Saffron Building Society which has agreed to be the pair’s main sponsor.

Visit their online fundraising page to add to their grand total which was £2,695 at the time of writing.

Elsewhere, Richard Duxbury, deputy managing director of Hull Daily Mail publisher Mail News and Media, is hoping to raise £1,700 for the charity Phab Kids.

Phab aims to promote and encourage people of all abilities to come together and create inclusion within the wider community.

Richard said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support so far. My target is to generate £1,700 so I’m asking my friends and colleagues throughout Northcliffe to help me achieve it for this worthwhile cause.”

Richard’s fundraising total has already passed the £700 mark and donations can be made at JustGiving.com.