A VISUALLY impaired runner from Redditch has completed the London Marathon and raised nearly £6,000 for the charity Guide Dogs.
Lizzie Tovey and her guide runner Corin Elliott from Alcester, completed their run in just over six hours.
Lizzie, who had never run a marathon before, said: “It was a fantastic day, I’ve never experienced anything like it.
“The first half was really good, but the second half was definitely more challenging.
“I have huge respect for Corin, without him I couldn’t have done it.”
Lizzie has raised around £5,700 for Guide Dogs so far, with donations still being made.
She will be naming a Guide Dog puppy with the money raised, via the charity’s Name a Puppy sponsorship scheme.
Lizzie added: “I chose to support Guide Dogs because I am visually impaired and there is the likelihood that in the future I may need the help of a guide dog myself.”
Lizzie and Corin haven’t decided what to call the puppy they are naming yet, but are considering ‘Eira’ after Lizzie’s grandmother, who suffered from the same sight condition as her.
Miles Northwood, community fundraising development officer for Guide Dogs Birmingham, said: “Congratulations to Lizzie on completing her first marathon and raising over £5,000 for Guide Dogs.
“It costs around £55,000 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on public donations, so we are really grateful for people, like Lizzie, for supporting us.”
