Running club brings together 35 nationalities

People involved with a running club which supports migrants and refugees will be among the thousands running the Brighton Marathon this weekend.

More than 40 people from Sanctuary Runners in Brighton will be taking part in the 26.2 miles (42km) run or the shorter 6.2 miles (10km) run on Sunday.

Sanctuary Runners, which first started in Ireland, organises weekly group runs for its members.

Tim Holtam, who runs the Brighton group, said: "This is about community integration. Everyone running together and making friends while we do it.

"We have over 35 different nationalities involved and we only started last June.

"It's what makes it interesting, having people from all over the world, all ages and all walks of life.

"The full spectrum of life is at Sanctuary Runners Brighton."

Mr Holtam also runs Brighton Table Tennis Club, which aims to bring people from all backgrounds together through the sport.

One of the runners taking part in the Brighton Marathon is professional violinist Leyla Fey, an asylum seeker from Uzbekistan.

She said: "I was welcomed so warmly by the Sanctuary Runners Club. It's so diverse and everyone who runs the club is so kind.

"I like both running and violin but running makes you feel much happier. It helps me play my music."

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