Army of volunteers pledge to help

The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon could not take place without its own eventers – people like York couple Jo and Simon Arundel - who are certainly going the extra mile to help make the event a success as they will be spending their first wedding anniversary volunteering.

Jo, a ward clerk at York District Hospital, said: “When we volunteered I hadn’t realised it was our anniversary but we were not going to back out.

“Instead of a nice romantic lunch or evening meal for two we will be standing on the streets with thousands of others. It’s a different way of spending your anniversary.”

The couple will be marshalling on behalf of children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.