A couple who got engaged just after one crossed the finishing line at the London Marathon are taking on a new challenge to raise money for a cancer charity close to their hearts.

Danny Wells, originally from Radlett but now living in Hemel Hempstead, completed the gruelling race in a respectable five hours 19 minutes and 26 seconds before getting down on one exhausted knee and proposing to childhood sweetheart Nikita Hallahan.  

“I burst into tears and screamed, yelled his name and cried some more,” she said.

Watford Observer:

“I think the word surprise is an understatement – I was completely and utterly in shock. It was such a perfect situation, and we had family and friends around to witness the wonderful moment and also capture it on camera which is fantastic.”

The couple, who met while studying at the Marlborough School in St Albans, are now planning to take on two more endurance events to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

A year on from the couple’s engagement, Danny will be running the Brighton Marathon before gearing up for a challenging bike ride around the coast of the Isle of Wight just 13 days later, which the two will complete together.

Nikita explained why they chose to help Prostate Cancer UK: “When my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March, our worlds came tumbling down. Just the word ‘cancer’ is scary enough to hear, let alone the endless questions that come with it.

“It is fair to say that the help from then on from Prostate Cancer UK was invaluable. This is our way of saying thank you.”

The two fundraisers have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the cancer charity. If you would like to donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dannyandnikita