Three friends with a long-time connection to Redbridge Jewish Community Centre were among Jewish Care's team of five, which raised more than £11,000.

The trio - Liam Stein, Adam Goldman and Josh Wynne - grew up attending RJCC and went on to become leaders.

Aiming high, Mr Wynne wrote to Buckingham Palace asking the Queen for sponsorship. He received a polite reply wishing him luck and congratulating him for choosing to support the Jewish community.

After completing his maiden marathon in four hours, he said the atmosphere along the route had been "absolutely fantastic. Canary Wharf was a personal favourite. I felt like I flew round there with the crowd's support." Mr Stein and Mr Goldman crossed the finish line a few minutes after him.

The Jewish Care quintet also included Yoni Amias (4:14), who travelled from Tel Aviv to take part, having recently made aliyah.

It was completed by Jewish Care employee Pawel Moczulewski (5:26), a member of the Living Well team at the Betty and Asher Loftus Centre in Friern Barnet. Working closely with residents of the centre's three residential homes, he appreciated the need to raise funds for the charity's services.

Another marathon first-timer was Dani Richman, who came home in 5:35, raising well over £2,000 for mental health charity Jami, an "invaluable" organisation. "Completing the marathon is one of my greatest accomplishments," she said. Joey Barnett (5:12) earned £8,000 for Jewish Blind & Disabled.

Cousins Jessica Field (5:52) and Nicky Sugarman (3:57) had incentive to run for educational charity Langdon as a close relative, Natasha Sugarman, is supported by Langdon in Manchester. They managed to raise almost £8,000, £3,000 above their target.

Having completed a half-marathon in Tel Aviv earlier this year, Radlett Reform's Rabbi Celia Surget ran the full distance in London (5:40), raising £7,000 towards the shul's "exciting programming and social action".

Jamie Cotsen (4:43) brought in £1,500 for the Jewish Deaf Association. His Cardiff-based brother is deaf.

It was a tenth marathon for London surgeon Colin Elton (5:32), who raised more than £2,000 for the Bobby Moore charity, supporting those with bowel cancer.