RUNNERS joined forces to tackle a half marathon.

There was jubilation, tears and sheer relief as 60 runners completed the 13.1 mile course through the Essex countryside.

Some runners were raising cash for different causes including the St Francis Hospice that supports adults Havering, Brentwood, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and West Essex.

Anne Ridgwell, 44, from Brentwood, was running in memory of her father Ray Reader who was cared for by the hospice.

She finished in an impressive two hours and two minutes and it was all part of her training for the Virgin Money London Marathon next month.

Kevin Calcutt, 51, from Brentwood, and his brother-in-law Robert Phillips, 52, also had a very personal motivation for running.

Kevin said: “This is my first ever half marathon and the adrenalin definitely kept me going.” 

“My father has received care from the hospice in the past and my mother-in-law passed away there.”

“As I was doing the training I thought it would be good to do it for a charity and I chose the hospice as our surgery deals with a lot of people who have been helped or are being helped by the hospice.”