A TRIO of Islanders will be slogging it out for two charities close to their heart by running a marathon on Sunday.

Harry Vernon, Maggie Niland and Robee Shepherd — members of the Ventnor Sloggers social running group — will be running 26.2 miles from Sandown to Cowes and back, in aid of the Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat (SSIL) and Ventnor Food Bank.

The trio, who already have one charity marathon under their belts, had planned to run a second one, the Portsmouth Marathon — until Covid struck.

Harry, a tutor who has lived in Ventnor for 20 years, was rescued by the SSIL from an upturned boat off Luccombe in July.

"I was keen to show my gratitude by raising some funds for these brave and dedicated people," explained Harry, 54.

"Ventnor Food Bank do a crucial job — especially at this time of year. Christmas is about giving and supporting people in the community.

"With the inevitable cancellation of the Portsmouth Marathon, due to Covid, we did not want to let down our charities, so we decided to organise our own marathon here on the Island."

Island-born Maggie, 56, is a phlebotomist at St Mary's Hospital, Newport. She lives in Newport.

Robee, 48, is a software engineer and lives in Ventnor.

The trio would like to raise £500.