THE manager of a Dursley building society was one of 45,000 runners who took part in the virtual London Marathon on Sunday.

Gavin Hall, who has managed the Coventry building society branch on Parsonage Street for seven years, took on the 26.2 mile race to raise money for Diabetes UK after his eldest son was diagnosed with the condition.

Harry, aged nine, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last summer.

“It has been a huge change for him,” Gavin said.

“He has been very brave and shown great resilience by learning to live with the condition whilst still going to St Matthew’s Primary School and playing football at Leonard Stanley Sharks.”

The condition means Harry has to test his blood sugar levels every time he wants to eat and administer his own injections.

“The shock of Harry’s diagnosis has been eased by the great work of the diabetic teams supporting Harry, who are backed by the research that takes place through Diabetes UK,” said Gavin.

“I hope by running the London Marathon for this charity, I can raise valuable funds to support the research they do, but also raise awareness of diabetes.”

Sunday’s runners chose their own 26.2-mile route, with the mileage and time charted on an app.

Gavin chose a circuit taking in Ebley, Nailsworth, King’s Stanley, Eastington and Chalford.

“I wasn’t sure what it would be like, but it was actually really special,” said Gavin.

“I was blown away by the amount of support I got.

"My work colleagues came out on what was a foul day around the route, with homemade signs, and sweets and drinks. Friends ran part of the way with me, and my step dad Tony Mills cycled nearly 20 miles of the course with me. And I did the last mile with my son Harry.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to my other half Gemma and my family for their support through all my running.”

Gavin has a target of £2,000. Sponsor him online at justgiving.com/fundraising/gavin-hall13