STAFF and parents at a primary school are raising money for seriously ill children when they run the London Marathon.

Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School representatives have already raised over £8,000 for Cheltenham-based charity WellChild, which looks after sick children.

Teacher Nathan Cox and teaching assistant Jill Jefferies are completing the marathon along with parent Natalie Smith and John Nicholson, the husband of a staff member.

Mr Cox said: "There are hundreds of thousands of children in the UK living with long-standing illness or disability. "By running the London Marathon this year in aid of WellChild, we hope to help the charity to improve the lives of as many children as possible.

"All of us are keen runners, but after selecting WellChild this year’s school charity of the year, we decided to enter the marathon as a team.

"With the school and the rest of the community behind us we have set ourselves an ambitious target, but we are looking forward to the challenge and we’re determined to have some fun along the way.

"The support we’ve had from a number of local partners, friends and family has been unbelievable.

"The whole community has got behind us.

"What makes it even more special is that we will be making a real impact on the lives of children and young people across the UK."

The group's efforts will help WellChild to continue helping seriously ill children across the UK be cared for at home instead of in hospital.

WellChild schools adventure coordinator, Sephron Mansell, said: "It’s fantastic to see the staff and parents from Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School join forces to run the 2017 London marathon to help WellChild.

"It has been even more heart-warming to see the wider community support it has generated. From a Karaoke night, bucket collections, to a fantastic frog racing evening, they have worked so hard.

"For many of the children, young people and families we support, just getting through each day is a huge challenge.

"The children have an Everest to climb in trying to live the kind of life we all take for granted.

"On their behalf I thank everyone at Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School and in the wider community for their support."

To donate, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/stowmadness

For more information about WellChild go to: www.wellchild.org.uk