EastEnders’ Lorna Fitzgerald, who played Abi Branning, to run Virgin Money London Marathon

EastEnders characters are normally too busy arguing to have time for things like marathon training.

So it is just as well Lorna Fitzgerald, pictured above, is no longer playing Abi Branning in the BBC soap, so she will have time to run the London Marathon for Barnardo’s.

She joined Floella Benjamin and Daley Thompson for Barnardo’s London Marathon training day at Battersea Park on Sunday.

Lorna was also joined by former Olympic athlete and Barnardo’s boy Snowy Brooks who represented Barbados in the 1972 Olympics in the decathlon.

The event, held at Battersea Park’s Millennium Arena on Saturday, was to thank those who are running for the charity, offering them training and fundraising advice and giving them a chance to meet the rest of Barnardo’s 160-strong running team ahead of the iconic London race on Sunday, April 26.

One of the runners to take part in the training day was Alison Colenso from Whitton in Richmond, who is running with her husband, David.

Alison said: “We have both worked in schools for around 18 years and I think it would be fair to say we see quite a mixed level of deprivation.

“Knowing the work that Barnardo’s does in this area with children in schools is the reason why we wanted to run the marathon for them. Fundraising for a charity which means so much to us makes all the training and aches and pains worthwhile.”

Lorna said: “Taking part in the training session has made the marathon feel much more real.

“I know it’s going to be tough but the session has left me feeling really determined and motivated to do my best.

“It was also lovely to meet the rest of Team Barnardo’s who are all raising money for this amazing charity.”

With last year’s race raising more than £290,000, the charity is hopeful that as many people as possible will dig deep and donate to help vulnerable children across the UK.