TWO Watchet mums – Toni Middleton and Clare Taplin – are set to run their first London Marathon on Sunday (April 22).

It will be Bell Inn bar manager Clare’s first ever race while Toni, manager of Goldilocks Hair and Beauty, has only run a half marathon before.

Both mothers of two, Clare is running to support Elliot’s Touch and Toni is aiming to raise £1500 for Children With Cancer UK.

Clare first took up running when she entered the ‘public ballot’ in April 2017: “By October, I had slowly managed to build myself up to four miles, so it was a bit of a shock when I received my acceptance form that month. I knew I had some serious training ahead of me!”

Toni said she wanted to push herself and her running further: “Cancer is something that my family sadly find ourselves facing at present and, as a mum to two, I wanted to run for a charity that specifically helped children.

“This is a major challenge for me personally and I’m starting to feel very nervous, but I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Toni and Clare have Just Giving fundraising pages – search for toni-middleton or clare-taplin. Sponsorship forms for Toni are at Goldilocks Hair and Beauty in Liddymore Road, to support Toni and behind the bar at The Bell Inn for Clare.