A BROTHER and sister-in-law marathon running duo are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for charity this weekend.

Dance instructor and care worker Lisa Hughes and brother-in-law David Wright are both from Portland.

Quantity surveyor Mr Wright, 44, of Grosvenor Road, Portland credits his son with inspiring him to run the London Marathon.

He will be running for charity Cardiac Risk in the Young after his youngest son Charlie was diagnosed with a heart condition a few years ago at a routine check-up.

Mr Wright said: “He has a hole in his heart, which has got smaller as he’s grown older. He also has a faulty heart value that doesn’t close properly.”

This may mean that Charlie would need an operation to fix the problem later in life but Mr Wright said: “At the moment he’s fine.”

He is hoping to raise £1,650. At the moment he is £150 short of his target, but is hopeful that he will have raised the money by the event at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the front page of the Dorset Echo, pictured left, prompted Lisa Hughes, 36, of Hambro Road, Portland, to run the marathon for the Weymouth women’s refuge outreach service.

Mum-of-two Mrs Hughes ran the marathon last year and won a free place to compete this year. She said: “I wanted to run for a local charity, and I saw the front page of the Echo and wanted to help.”

The pair were due to run together in last year’s marathon but Mr Wright tore the ligaments in his knee and had to postpone his place until this year.

This year the team are fighting fit and hope to finish in just over four hours.

David’s wife Tracey and Lisa’s husband Jason will be in London to cheer them on.