Running club brings together 35 nationalities

Three members of the Sanctuary Runners Club Brighton standing outside a cafe. They are all wearing branded Sanctuary Runners light blue tops with light green logos which say Sanctuary Runners Brighton. Founder of the Brighton group has his arms around two other members Leyla and Anvar and all are smiling at the cameraImage source, George Carden/BBC
Image caption,

People involved in Sanctuary Runners Club Brighton will be doing the Brighton Marathon. From left, club members Leyla Fey, Tim Holtam and Anwar Karimi

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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."

Three of the Sanctuary Runners wearing blue t shirts running in sunny weather on Brighton seafront. In the background is Brighton MarinaImage source, George Carden/BBC
Image caption,

Runners on one of their weekly meetings going along Brighton seafront

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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