Issued by Racing Welfare 17 December 2007

Several of the top bookmakers will be getting involved with raising funds for Racing Welfare sending representatives from their Public Relations Departments to compete head to head in the 2008 London Marathon. Totesport will be represented by Damian Walker, Coral by Simon Clare, Iain Turner will be running for WBX , David Williams for Ladbrokes and George Primarolo for Bet365. Pundit Dave Nevison will also be taking part as well as John Blake, Charlie Hancock and Fergal O’Brian who works for Nigel Twiston Davies.

Damian Walker said: “The idea was hatched by a few of us on the night of the Chester Cup and not surprisingly drink was involved. Running 26.2 miles is not something you agree to do sober. I had watched the runners struggling at the 25-mile mark in this year’s London Marathon when it was a baking 24 degrees and thought it would be great to see some of the reps suffering in similar fashion in next year’s race!

“Racing Welfare is a great charity and they could not have been more supportive to all the guys. We’ll be arranging some PR events in the New Year to help raise money.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of side bets along the way. Coral’s Simon Clare is probably favourite as he has course and distance form having completed the race quite a few years ago. He also owns a running machine. George Primarolo from Bet365 will probably get a flyer as he was a sprinter in his youth with a time of 11.3 seconds for the 100m when he was 15, but perhaps someone should point out to him that it is a marathon and not a sprint. WBX’s Iain Turner is the big outsider in the field but he has engaged the services of a personal trainer and is doing the latest fitness fad called vibration training!”

The runners will be posting training blogs from now until the event which takes place on Sunday 13 th April 2008, and can be seen on the Racing Welfare website www.racingwelfare.co.uk.

To sponsor one of the runners, please visit our website and select the runner that you would like to support. The runners will also be setting up individual sponsorship pages at www.justgiving.org.uk.