A naval architect and an accident and emergency doctor from Southampton are just two of the many RNLI supporters who ran the Virgin London Marathon in April.

Nick Burton and Mairi Reynolds, who will marry in July, ran the race in honour of the many communities they’ve lived and worked in that ‘feel protected by the great service that the RNLI provides’. It was also a tribute to Nick’s dad, who died in a boating accident. As the magazine went to print, the pair had raised almost £3,000.

Nick explains: ‘I wanted to raise money for the RNLI to help them to prevent as many boating accidents as possible in the future. I have also pursued a career in the marine industry, so for me, raising the profile of the RNLI and the important work it does is really rewarding.’