Hammers set for London Marathon!

The 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon is taking place on Sunday, with a host of West Ham United fans and staff members taking part in the big race.

Among them will be the oldest runner taking part, 89-year-old Paul Freedman, as well as the Hammers' head of performance analysis David Woodfine, corporate sales manager Marie Shirley and IT manager Neil Barker.

Here, whufc.com meets the West Ham supporters who will join close to 40,000 people pounding the streets of London on Sunday.

Paul Freedman

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Paul Freedman has run every London Marathon, apart from one, since 1991 and will be the oldest runner in the race for the third time. Freedman, from Hornchurch, will be running to raise funds for Saint Francis Hospice - the charity which he has collected more than £100,000 for during his running career. To learn more about Saint Francis Hospice, click here.

"It's nice being the oldest runner, I'm a bit slower nowadays, but the crowd pulls me through and I still enjoy the day. If only I could find someone to give me a piggy back! I get a kick out of volunteering and fundraising and Saint Francis Hospice is a fantastic charity. Everyone there is lovely and very dedicated. Saint Francis Hospice nurses looked after my wife Teeny at home before she sadly died from cancer in 2007."

Chris Costin

Supporter Chris Costin is taking part with his wife to raise money for the Stroke Association. To make a donation, click here.

"I'm raising money for Stroke as both my wife's grandmother and my Grandma have suffered serious strokes and I couldn't think of a better charity to run for"

Peter Shepherd

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Peter Shepherd, 50, is an exiled Hammer living in Scotland and is also running for the Stroke Association. To make a donation, click here.

"This is in memory of my Dad, as he suffered a stroke in 2012, which left him unable to walk. He passed away in February last year. It will be my second marathon, having run the Edinburgh Marathon in 2012.I'm looking forward to a memorable day back in London."

Dan Wall

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Dan Wall is running in memory of his mother and raising money for the National Brain Appeal. For more information about the charity, click here.

"I am running my third London Marathon, with this being the second time I have run and raised money for The National Brain Appeal, a great charity that do some fantastic work in their field. My Mum passed away in September 2012 after suffering a very sudden brain aneurysm and since then I have been helping raising vital finds for this great charity."

Catherine Hawes

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Lifelong Hammer and Spanish teacher Catherine Hawes, 52, lives in the American State of Texas. She will be running in memory of her late mother, who died two months after Bobby Moore in 1993, and her other friends and family who were taken away by cancer. Hawes will run for the London-based Institute of Cancer Research. To make a donation, click here.

"On 11 April 1993, my mother died of cancer after a battle of 18 months. She had colon cancer, and died less than two months after Bobby Moore, a hero of mine had died of the same cancer. She was cared for at the end by the Royal Mardsen Hospital in Surrey, where she had been treated. Her cancer was advanced when diagnosed and she participated in a study for new treatments. This gave us some 18 months after diagnosis, longer than originally predicted. Since then, cancer has taken my brother-in-law, father-in-law and aunt, to name a few. I know many people who have been affected by cancer. Recently a friend was diagnosed with brain cancer, and I decided it was time to do something."

Rachel Gray

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Alpari Stand Season Ticket Holder and Lancaster University student Rachel Gray will be running the London Marathon 2014 for Lattitude Global Volunteering. To make a donation, click here.

"I volunteered with Lattitude in 2011 in New Zealand and it was a life-changing experience for me, so this is one way I can give something back to them. Given that just six months ago running for a train would've left me out of breath, I've really come a long way! And every donation helps fuel that."

Brian and Thomas Briggs

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Lifelong Hammers-supporting father and son duo Brian Briggs, 45, and Thomas Briggs, 19, are running for the Rhys Daniels Trust charity and are hoping to raise more than £1,000. Brian will be running his 15th marathon and Thomas his first. Wife Jackie, daughter Chloe, and dogs Hammer and Bubbles would like to wish them all the best.

Phil Jackson

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Phil Jackson is running for Phabkids and should be easy to spot! To make a donation, click here.

"I'm running this Sunday's London Marathon for Phabkids. I'll be having blue hair, orange tutu and the name 'West Ham Phil' on my Phabkids vest! It's my first marathon! If you could make a donation, every amount makes a difference. Thank you."