A Worcester dentist will trade surgical gloves for running shoes when she takes part in the London Marathon.

Janette Wilcox will run the race for the Prostate Cancer Charity after a colleague at the Shrubbery Avenue practice at which she is an associate died from the disease.

"It is a very good cause - a lot of men die from prostate cancer," said the 37 year-old, who lost her friend and colleague last July.

"This is my way of helping the charity and remembering my friend," she added.

She said the charity, which held its annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week last month, was developing a simple blood test which people could do at home to detect the cancer.

Mrs Wilcox, who lives in Malvern with her journalist husband David and two daughters, has never run a marathon before.

She has, however, come second in the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Race for Life on Worcester Racecourse two years' running.

She also came first in the annual Worcester Beacon Race up the Malvern Hills in 1997 and 1998 and was First Lady Veteran in the race last year.

Mrs Wilcox has been running 48 miles a week for the last eight weeks, despite having flu at the beginning of last month.

"It held me back a little bit," said Mrs Wilcox, whose longest practice run so far has been 20 miles.

She normally runs around Callow End, Upton-on-Severn and Welland, and liked to run on the Malvern Hills before the foot-and-mouth epidemic closed the hills.

"Obviously, at the moment I can't go on the hills but it suits me to run on the roads as the London Marathon's a road race," she said.

Her husband, who has completed three London Marathons, has been helping her with times and plotting and measuring routes for the race on Sunday, April 22.

"I am hoping for under three hours and 15 minutes but I would be happy with under three hours and 30 minutes," said Mrs Wilcox.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mrs Wilcox can phone 01684 565312.

For more information and help, call the Prostate Cancer Helpline on 0845 300 8383.

A Worcester dentist will trade surgical gloves for running shoes when she takes part in the London Marathon.

Janette Wilcox will run the race for the Prostate Cancer Charity after a colleague at the Shrubbery Avenue practice at which she is an associate died from the disease.

"It is a very good cause - a lot of men die from prostate cancer," said the 37 year-old, who lost her friend and colleague last July.

"This is my way of helping the charity and remembering my friend," she added.

She said the charity, which held its annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week last month, was developing a simple blood test which people could do at home to detect the cancer.

Mrs Wilcox, who lives in Malvern with her journalist husband David and two daughters, has never run a marathon before.

She has, however, come second in the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Race for Life on Worcester Racecourse two years' running.

She also came first in the annual Worcester Beacon Race up the Malvern Hills in 1997 and 1998 and was First Lady Veteran in the race last year.

Mrs Wilcox has been running 48 miles a week for the last eight weeks, despite having flu at the beginning of last month.

"It held me back a little bit," said Mrs Wilcox, whose longest practice run so far has been 20 miles.

She normally runs around Callow End, Upton-on-Severn and Welland, and liked to run on the Malvern Hills before the foot-and-mouth epidemic closed the hills.

"Obviously, at the moment I can't go on the hills but it suits me to run on the roads as the London Marathon's a road race," she said.

Her husband, who has completed three London Marathons, has been helping her with times and plotting and measuring routes for the race on Sunday, April 22.

"I am hoping for under three hours and 15 minutes but I would be happy with under three hours and 30 minutes," said Mrs Wilcox.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mrs Wilcox can phone 01684 565312.

For more information and help, call the Prostate Cancer Helpline on 0845 300 8383.

AN Evesham GP will be practising what she prescribes when she runs in the London Marathon this year to raise money for charity.

Dr Julie Edwardes, who works at the Riverside Surgery in Evesham, will be running on April 22 to raise funds for St Richard's Hospice, Worcester.

"It started as a personal fitness exercise and to encourage my patients to take up running," she said.

"I chose to raise money for St Richard's Hospice firstly because it is a local case, and secondly, because as a GP I see first hand the benefits and excellent service that the Hospice brings to patients."

As part of her training, the GP has to run a gruelling 45 miles a week, to help her build up to the 26-mile marathon distance.

Patients, colleges, family and friends are all getting involved in the challenge and to date she has raised nearly £300 in sponsorship.

Other local runners who also raising money for St Richard's Hospice include postman James Weatherhead from Ross, John and Marianne Vincent from Pershore, and Ashley Philbrick from Droitwich.

For further details or to sponsor these local runners contact the Appeals Office on 01905 26262.

Director clears the mental health hurdle

WORCESTERSHIRE'S social services director is to run the London Marathon in aid of a mental health charity after himself suffering stress and depression.

Peter Gilbert, due to retire this month after three-and-a-half years in the job, is to tackle the 26-mile route in aid of Worcester City Mind.

He chose the charity after suffering from stress and depression, which have forced him off work since last autumn.

"A lot of people, in this very pressurised world, do suffer from the modern illness of stress and depression," said Mr Gilbert, who lives in Barbourne, Worcester, with his wife and three daughters.

"I never thought I'd suffer from it - it came as a shock."

The 50-year-old said he had fought the illness with the help of a good GP, his family and exercise. He will take "time out" after retiring with a view to working for himself.

"I want to keep an interest in social and health care issues," said Mr Gilbert, who worked in mental health as an approved social worker during the 1970s and 1980s.

Originally from Jersey, he also managed mental health services in Kent between 1989 and 1992, before moving to Worcester in 1997, where he intends to stay.

"I've had some approaches from national organisations but right at the moment I am concentrating on the marathon," added Mr Gilbert,

Mr Gilbert, who has always believed fitness and health to be important, is running about 45 miles a week.

Last April, the Worcester Joggers and Worcester Athletics Club member ran the Stratford Marathon and raised £1,200 for the Worcestershire Association of Young Carers.

"I've raised £600 so far for the London Marathon and I'd like to make £1,000," he said. "I'm very keen to back Worcester Mind, which is doing a terrific job."

Worcester City Mind was affiliated to National Mind last June.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mr Gilbert, or who would like more information about Worcester City Mind can phone Susan Scarth on 01905 350912.

THE secret of a teacher's success in the marathon will be following the running rules.

Clive Corbett, deputy head of Pershore High School, says that he has found that the training has become easier over the last few weeks.

He has followed the guidelines formulated by Antonio Pinto, a champion marathon runner.

"I was getting concerned that it was getting too hard," said Mr Corbett.

"But recently I've felt particularly strong, in fact I'm feeling stronger than ever.

"The advice is spot on.

"Now I'm slowing down. When you reach so far your endurance won't improve, but it also won't reduce."

Mr Corbett has enlisted the support of pupils, parents, teachers and other staff, and his fund-raising efforts currently stand at £1,500 for Whizz Kidz.

The charity provides mobility for disabled children.

Recently, sixth-formers held a lunchtime drama performance and raised £15.

The whole school took part in a non-uniform day and raised £800.

"Everyone has helped. I didn't think I would have raised so much in such a short time," said Mr Corbett.

"They've all got behind me."

This is the teacher's first marathon and he hopes to cross the finish line after five hours.

"The charity is motivation enough," he said.

"You've just got to think you can do it and the kids who I'm raising money for."

THE Chief Fire Officer will be doing more than running up ladders in his preparations for the Flora London Marathon.

David O'Dwyer of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade, will instead be pounding the Worcestershire roads building up the miles for the 26-mile run on Sunday, April 22.

Mr O'Dwyer has pledged to raise £5,000 for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

"My staff raise an awful lot of money for different charities and I feel I should lead by example," said Mr O'Dwyer, who has run three other London Marathons.

"When you meet some of the kids that the NSPCC is trying to help the three or months training is nothing compared to what they'll be going through for the rest of their lives.

"The hardest thing is finding the time with working shifts, I end up running late at night. It messes the weekend up and affects your social life, but my wife has run marathons and she understands."

Mr O'Dwyer is currently running 50 miles a week, he aims to finish the race with a time of four to four-and-a-half hours.

"It's a wonderful feeling to cross the finish line, most of the run I enjoy but I find when you get to 22 miles it gets really tough.

"The crowds at London are brilliant they keep you going.

"I'm looking forward to it, I'm just hoping for a nice day."

if anyone would like to sponsor Mr O'Dwyer in the Flora London Marathon he can be contacted on 01905 24454.