A MARRIED couple from Pontypool will complete their first marathons later this month to raise money for two charities close to their hearts.

Kelly and Mark Hayes, who are 33 and 35 respectively and have two daughters, will be running in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 26 to raise funds for the neonatal charity Sands and the Torfaen-based One in a Million charity.

Mrs Hayes, who works for Torfaen council’s Communities First branch, said they started running in parkruns in Pontypool Park and have gradually increased their distances.

The couple, of Channel View in Penygarn, were driven to raise money for Sands after Mrs Hayes gave birth to a stillborn boy 41 weeks into her pregnancy in March 2007. They now have Olivia, six, and one-year-old Lowri.

She said: “My waters had gone before I even knew. There was no heart beat. It was very traumatic.”

And the couple is also working to collect funds for a Talywain mum, Lindsay Clarke, who has a rare autoimmune disease. The One in a Million charity is looking to raise £300,000 to pay for an operation for her and has so far collected just over £60,000.

She said the running couple had embarked on a 17 week plan to complete the marathon in December. They completed their longest run of 22 miles at the weekend.

She added: “It has been hard work but it’s not too bad because we’re raising money for two special causes. It’s worthwhile - and it’s certainly going to be something to remember.”

Along with friends, there will be relatives to cheer the couple along in the capital.

Mrs Hayes said: “We have an army of supporters coming. Our parents will be there with friends; my brother’s coming. Without their support we would never have been able to do it. You just don’t realise how gruelling the training will be.

“We are hoping to do it in about five hours. That is if we don’t stop for selfies part way through!”

For more information on their collection visit justgiving.com/GerrardMark-Hayes16. And for details on Mrs Clarke, visit gofundme.com/838nac.