A GROUP of employees at an Oswestry accountants firm are preparing to take on the gruelling London Marathon later this month.

The five-strong group from DRE & Co. Chartered Accountants will take on the famous 26-mile course around the capital in aid of Gobowen’s orthopaedic hospital.

Rebecca Jones, Harry Hammonds, Jack Price, James Jones and Rebecca Thorpe have been hosting various events to fundraise in the build up to the event.

The fundraising has had to fit in with their extensive training programme as they prepare to take on the mammoth run.

“I’d say we’re all fairly novice runners at this distance,” said Rebecca Jones.

“James has done the London Marathon two years ago, and Rebecca [Thorpe] took part in the Edinburgh Marathon two years ago too.

“I’ve taken part in a half-marathon before, so this is different to anything I’ve done myself.

“The training is very tiring and hard to fit in, but it will all be worth it.”

Fundraising events organised by the group have included bag packs, a scavenger hunt, a cake sale at the RJAH Gobowen hospital and an Easter raffle.

On top of that, the group have been sponsored by various local groups to help in raising funds.

Rebecca Jones added: “We’d like to thank everybody who has helped us – it’s nice to see the local community coming together in aid of a local cause which will help local people.

“We all know people who have been treated at the hospital or who have worked there – it’s a good cause for us to run for.

“DRE have been very supportive as our employers, so we’d like to thank them as well.”

Fellow Oswestry company AICO are one of the groups which has sponsored the group ahead of their run.