A remote Highland community will be well represented in Sunday's London Marathon, with over 1 per cent of the entire population of Applecross, or three people, taking part.

Dr Gerry McPartlin, 71, who retired to the West Highland community, is running to raise money for the Prostate Cancer UK charity. More than £6,000 has already been pledged.

He is doing it in memory of my brother Joe, a Scottish rugby internationalist with six caps, who died of prostate cancer in October last year aged 75.

Gerry said "I'm 71 and have been treated for prostate cancer myself, surgery and radiotherapy, in the past 18 months. I've lived in Applecross for the past 12 years since retiring as a GP in Edinburgh. I'm Medical Officer to the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team. In 2010, I raised nearly £50,000 by climbing all the Munros in 88 days - a record for a pensioner. The money raised was for a new L'Arche home in Edinburgh for adults with learning disabilities."

He is joined by Sarah McCowan, 35, his niece, who is running for the Fight for Sight research organisation; and Jess Whistance, 39,raising money for the local Venture Trust, both also from Applecross.