Three regional journalists have helped raise thousands of pounds for charity by successfully running the New York marathon.

Jane Gallagher, Paul Fulford and John Quirk were among more than 30,000 competitiors who ran the tough 26.2 mile course from the Verazzano Narrows Bridge, which links Staten Island to Brooklyn, to Central Park.

For Liverpool Echo feature writer Jane, her first marathon experience was “awesome”.

She admits that six months ago she would have struggled to run round the block, but after training for the past six months she completed the course in a respectable five hours and 15 minutes – or four hours and 45 minutes if you deduct the time it took her to cross the start line and queue for the toilets!

Although a little disappointed with her time, Jane, (36), said: “It was a fantastic experience – I want to do it again.

“Before I’m 40 I’d like to do it in under four hours. I’d also like to take my kids because I think they’d really enjoy it.”

Jane was also proud to have raised £8,000 for the Echo’s Sunrise Fund, which this year is raising money for Macmillan Nurses – a particularly poignant cause as a friend of Jane’s died of cancer two weeks before the marathon and had previously been cared for by Macmillan Nurses.

Birmingham Evening Mail journalist Paul Fulford, (48), also ran the marathon to raise money for his newspaper’s chosen charity – The Christmas Tree Fund – although the grand total hasn’t yet been calculated as money is still rolling in.

New York was Paul’s second marathon after running the London Marathon in April 2001.

And despite New York being a lot hillier than London, he managed to shave 15 minutes off his race time and clocked in at four hours, 39 minutes – just nine minues outside his target time.

Paul, (48), said: “It was tremendous fun and the atmosphere was electric – it was like running through a film set.

“I was nine minutes outside my target time but it was a much hillier and tougher course than I expected so I was quite pleased in retrospect.

“I did more training for New York, I didn’t fully understand the toughness when I ran the London Marathon.

“And I enjoyed New York more. I approached it with more dread as I knew what was in store, but I also had more confidence as I knew what I was capable of.”

Completing the course in just four minutes more than Paul, was John Quirk, (pictured), chief reporter at Isle of Man Newspapers, who raised £2,000 for Mencap.

The 32-year-old said: “I began training in April after seeing a letter from Mencap in one of our papers asking for volunteers.

“I’d always wanted to do a marathon, but it was one of those things that would always be ‘well, maybe next year’. But on my birthday in April, I decided it was time to stop talking about it and do it.

“I trained for about five weeks, but then had a major set back when I broke my collarbone playing five-a-side footy. That put me out of action for two months, and I had to start training again from scratch.

“The training was okay, but the dedication you need isn’t always there and with work commitments I didn’t do as much as I wanted to – or should have done, according to the training programme Mencap gave us.

“But in the end, it was enough. It’s an awesome experience and the feeling when you finally cross the finishing line is truly amazing – utter relief mixed with a sense of wonder at your achievement.”

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