ONE runner celebrated crossing the London Marathon finish line yesterday (Sunday) by proposing to his girlfriend.

Sean Penny, 25, from Arlesey, proposed to his girlfriend Gemma Austin, 25, after running the 26.2-mile course in 5:10, raising more than �3,000 for Make-a-Wish Foundation UK.

The proposal came after Jay Norton, star of BBC1 show The Voice, serenaded Gemma with one of his own songs, Forever.

Sean discovered Jay on YouTube before he hit television fame, and asked Jay via Twitter to help make his proposal extra special.

Make-a-Wish grants wishes to young people fighting life-threatening conditions. Sean ran with a photograph of his childhood best friend, Natalie Brooks, who was granted her wish in 2002.

“Natalie returned to school the day after her London shopping trip wish and I remember how happy she was,” he said. “It made me so grateful to Make-A-Wish that I have always wanted to repay them for what they did.

“Sadly, at the age of just 16, Natalie lost her battle with cancer and left us in October 2003. This is my way of saying thank you to Make-A-Wish.”