With £50,000 needed each year, just to keep its services going, Oxfordshire mental health charity Mind is pinning a lot of hope on a trio of first-time marathon runners.

Dave Kerridge, from Bicester, Dr Fiona Pharoah, from Henley, and Abbey Koudoua from Oxford, are trying to raise as much cash as possible by taking part in their first London Marathon, on April 23.

Currently pounding the streets where they live, they all have a link with Mind, and an admiration for its work, as Mr Kerridge explained: "In my spare time I am a volunteer mini bus driver for Oxfordshire Mind.

"I'm really keen to help raise funds for Oxfordshire Mind as I can see the good work the charity does to help people living with mental and emotional health problems in the county."

Dr Pharoah, 44, is a consultant psychiatrist currently working for the Littlemore Mental Health Centre in Oxford.

Her running career started four years ago when she decided to enter the Oxford Race for Life.

She said: "I have run half marathons but this is my first real marathon.

"I was not expecting to get a place to run the first time I applied so the acceptance form came as a bit of a shock!

"However, I am following a training programme which is going OK.

"My main aim is to just complete the course rather than do it in a given time.

"My reason for running for Oxfordshire Mind is because I want to support an organisation which promotes the needs of people with mental health issues.

"I hope that I can raise awareness about mental health by asking people to sponsor me."

Abbey Koudoua, 43, is a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade, and has also been doing some part-time care work with the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust during the last year.

He said: "Through this work I have learned about the great deal of help and support that mental health patients need to get back on their feet.

"The training for the marathon has been quite hard, but enjoyable."

The funds the trio raise will help people living in Oxfordshire who are experiencing mental and emotional health problems such as anxiety, bereave- ment, depression, recovery from breakdowns, stress and schizophrenia.