Breathless runners from Barnet joined 35,000 other competitors in this year's London Marathon, and helped to raise millions of pounds for good causes.

Spurred on by thousands of spectators, the runners were undeterred by unpredictable April weather, overcoming intermittent showers and an unseasonal chill in the air.

A New Barnet father and daughter, Katie, 26, and Mike Ventress, 59, overcame personal tragedy to run, raising £3,500 for the Leukaemia Research Fund. They chose to run for the charity because Katie's brother Mark died of cancer.

Katie, who works for Stagecoach at Cromer Road Primary School, in New Barnet, said: "It was very difficult, but when you think about people suffering with cancer, the marathon is only a few hours of pain."

Di Godin from Potters Bar, overcame her own battle with cancer and learnt to walk again after a motorbike accident. She finished the marathon in five hours, 51 minutes.

Other success stories include Alan Cox, 40, a teacher at Hendon Prep School, in Tenterden Road, Barnet, who lost 5 st after taking up running.

Westminster University student Mark Greaves, 21, of Edgware, cannot wait for next year and completed the course in four hours, 10 minutes.

Richard Cahill, 27, a tax consultant from Finchley, and a patron of Jewish Care, crossed the line in four hours, 19 minutes.

He said: "I'm delighted to have raised over £2,000 for charity. When one of my sponsors heard how well I'd done, he said he would double his donation."

For Abigail San, 31, a clinical psychologist from Hendon, who raised over £5,000 for the National Autistic Society, the distance was not the hardest obstacle to overcome.

She said: "I was very embarrassed to be overtaken by a 101-year-old competitor."

Councillor Mathew Offord, 38, Deputy Leader of Barnet Council, finished the course in three hours, 57 minutes and raised £1,500 for the North London Hospice.

Mr Offord said: "I am pleased to have finished with such a good time, but I am even happier that we have raised so much for a good cause."