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News editor who collapsed at London Marathon to take on race again

Nick Gill

A news editor who collapsed at the London Marathon two years ago will attempt the challenge again this weekend to support the charity who helped him.

Nick Gill, left, the news editor for Archant titles The Comet in Stevenage and the Royston Crow, fell at the 18-mile mark in 2013 due to dehydration and was helped by St John Ambulance volunteers.

When in the medical tent, Nick vowed never to take on marathon again but has now decided to give it another go, aiming to complete it in around four hours.

Nick, who is from Luton, told Luton on Sunday that he was determined to complete the 26-mile race this time – partly to raise cash for the first aid charity which helped him previously.

He said: “Collapsing in 2013 was a scary experience. Before paramedics were able to cool me down my temperature was at a dangerously high level – around 40 degrees C – and I’m just so thankful to everyone from St John Ambulance who looked after me.

“After a year off I decided to give it another go as on a personal level running a marathon is something I’ve always wanted to do. But returning to London is also a way of saying thank you to a charity that saves lives on a daily basis.”

Gary Haines

Also taking part in the marathon on Sunday is former Romford Recorder sports reporter Gary Haines, left, who will raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity he now works for as a PR manager.

He told his former paper: “This disease kills one man every hour and has struck among my family. I’m proud to work for the charity alongside some incredible colleagues and volunteers and am well on my way to raising more than £2,000 to help save men’s lives.”

To raise funds for the charity, Gary has been carrying out a #500shirts challenge, which has seen him wear a different shirt every day since 1 January last year, with the aim of raising £500.

Gary can be sponsored here.

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