Dedicated women runners in the Gillingham Trotters Club are not content with just running the London Marathon this year.

As well as taking part in the 26-mile slog around the capital, the women are also lending a hand to arrange the first North Dorset Village Marathon. 

Cynthia Phillips, Julie Williams, Jill East and Dot Newberry are in training for the London event on 26 April and have been also promoting a new local marathon, which will set off from Sturminster Newton High School on Sunday 3 May.

The 100 competitors will run a picturesque race along country lanes through the villages of Hinton St Mary, Marnhull, Stalbridge, Todber, Stour Row, Margaret Marsh, West Orchard, Farrington, Child Okeford and Hammoon, before returning along the new railway back to Sturminster Newton. 

Dot, who is helping fellow trotter Innes "iron legs" Braun to arrange the event, said how pleased she was to be involved in the new marathon. 

She said: "We're really excited to be having a marathon in Dorset because it's a distance that the district hasn't had for so long. 

"Runners from the area that have wanted to run marathons have had to travel to the nearest ones which are in Taunton and the New Forest." 

Perhaps because of this, uptake for the marathon has been rapid, with all 100 places in the individual event now filled. 

But there are still places available for runners wishing to take part in the relay event, in which four runners share the burden, each taking on around 10km.  The race can accommodate 50 teams in total and there will be prizes for the male and female teams that finish in first, second and third place, along with one for the winning mixed team. 

Cynthia of Gillingham is running the event to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society, while Jill in running for Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

Cynthia said: "It's inspiring seeing everyone running for a different charity or for a family member. 

"the crowds are also wonderful and really keep you going.  You also get a real sense of achievement from it, especially if you do it for charity." 

As a pharmacist, Cynthia is aware that her charity of choice is increasingly needed. 

"I do see a lot of local people in the pharmacy who are suffering from the disease and it's getting more well known because it's in the media," she said.

"And with Terry Pratchett suffering, people re even more aware how debilitating Alzheimer's can be." 

All of the ladies turned out at the recent Sherborne 10k, which they used as a training run for the full marathon.  To sponsor any of the ladies, visit the Gillingham Trotters' website at www.gillinghamtrotters.talktalk.net