Brentford staff and fans put themselves through the pain barrier last weekend to take on one of the world’s most famous physical challenges and all came through. Tens of thousands of people pounded the streets of London in the name of sport and charity on Sunday, 28 April, during the 2019 Virgin London Marathon. Around 40,000 people ran from Blackheath to The Mall and covered the 26.2-mile course for a variety of causes.

The father of Chris Haslam, Head of Athletic Performance at Brentford FC, died of cancer in November 2018 and in his last months he was cared for by the Peace Hospice, in Watford. Chris ran the marathon to raise money for the hospice. Brentford FC Community Sports Trust had a fundraising place at the London Marathon for the first time this year and Lee Sullivan – an avid Brentford fan – finished in their colours.

Kirsty Rice, who is running the Farewell Griffin Park project, ran on behalf of Crisis, the UK’s national charity for homeless people, while Brentford fan Lisa Collings ran to raise money for Dementia UK. Brentford Women's FC player Naomi Totten also completed the course. Naomi ran iton behalf of The Lily Foundation.

Fan Bill Neeley was another who made it round. Bill is a patron of Cardiac Risk in the Young and this was the tenth marathon he has completed for them. Brentford FC has a historic relationship with CRY as Andy Scott, a former manager and player who also headed up the Club's recruitment team in recent years is a patron of the charity. CRY’s logo was also carried on the Club’s kit during the 2008/09 season.

The Club have been promoting CRY this year after the untimely death of Robert Rowan, former Technical Director, from a fatal cardiomyopathy episode in November, aged 28. Robert's wife Suzanne ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise funds and the Brentford Community Sports Trust's Brentford Sports FEST event will include a cardiac screening service in memory of Robert. You can sponsor Bill and donate to CRY at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BillNeelyrunsthemarathon.

Fans can also sponsor Chris Haslam at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisHaslam4. You can donate to Lee’s fundraising page here. For more information about fundraising opportunities with the Trust please email [email protected].

Read about Lisa’s story and sponsor her at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lisa-collings-dementia-uk-london-marathon. Sponsor Kirsty at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Kirstysmarathon2019. You can read about Naomi's run and sponsor her at justgiving.com/fundraising/Maisies-Auntie-Naomi.