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Lankan medical student runs London Marathon

By Victor Jayanetti, Our London Correspondent

One of the biggest races in the world took place in central London last Sunday when the 22nd London Marathon got off to a fine start. Cheered on by an estimated crowd of one million, more than 32,000 competitors ran, jogged and walked for 26 miles 385 yards to take part in this mammoth race.

As Britain's Paula Radcliffe and the American Khalid Khannouchi were smashing records in the elite race, the young, the old and the disabled waved, laughed and chatted as they made their way round under blue skies. World class athletes as well as thousands of fun runners took part in this annual event, one of the most famous races in the world.

It took more than half an hour just for runners to file through the start gate. Along the route 3,000 marshals, 1,200 St John Ambulance personnel, 68 ambulances and scores of volunteer doctors stood ready to care for any casualties. Mercifully, this year there were no fatalities.

It was Sri Lankan New Year day. Around the world Sri Lankans were celebrating the Sinhala New year, tucking in to favourite sweet meats, attending religious activities, and simply enjoying the first new year since the dawn of peace in Sri Lanka after two decades of violence and terror. But for a young dedicated Sri Lankan medical student in London, things were different. She was determined to test her agility and skills at the 26 mile long Marathon on New Year day.

Kanchana Rajaratne, a final year medical student from Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital in London, has shown her interest in athletics since her school days, and is currently the captain of the University Netball team. She made her mind up to participate in the marathon from day one when applications were called in for the race. Her ambition was to participate and raise as much funds as possible for a well known charity.

The Rahula Trust, a London registered charity, based at the London Buddhist Vihara offers scholarships to poorer rural students in Sri Lanka, allowing them a better education. At the moment more than 200 Sri Lanka students are registered beneficiaries of the trust, and the hope is to increase the membership substantially, according to Ven. Thawalama Bandula Thero of London Buddhist Vihara.

Speaking to Daily News, prior to the marathon, Kanchana said, "having grown up in England I have had all the opportunities to make my dream come true, but fellow citizens who are deprived of such facilities deserve all the help they can get. I am committed myself to make my contribution towards them by completing the race in good time and raising funds for Rahula Trust "

With regular training and courage received from her parents, Bandula and Keerthi, Kanchana was in no doubt she would finish the course and raise much funds as she could. Since the first race in 1981, 475,441 people have completed the London Marathon. In 2001 31,997 participants finished the Flora London Marathon (30,302 completing the main Race and 1,695 completing the adidas Mini London Marathon). Another aspect of the London Marathon which has developed over the years is its success as a charity fundraising event.

It is estimated that around œ156 million has been raised for numerous charities over the years.

Kanchana, who was in excellent form from the beginning, finished the race in just 3 hours and 36 minutes, an impressive time for a non-professional runner. A total sum of five thousand pounds raised during the event will be handed over to the Rahula Trust. It isn't an exaggeration to say that Kanchana was one of the happiest Sri Lankans in England on Sri Lankan New Year's Day.

The race came to an end only this Friday when the last person, Lloyd Scott, set a world record for the longest timed marathon by "running" in a diver's suit weighing 130lb.

The British athlete Paula Radcliffe collected œ185,000 - the most ever won by a woman athlete in a single event. The 28-year-old smashed the British record and became the second-fastest female marathon runner in history as she cruised over the finishing line in a time of two hours, 18 minutes and 56 seconds - just nine seconds outside the world record.

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