Bruce Englefield - 64
So there I was one day contemplating my navel when it came to me what the problem was. I was overweight, over-age, unfit, stressed out and heading downhill. "Change things", I thought. Well, I couldn’t change my age but everything else, yes.

The Save the Devil project provided the incentive and motivation and has sustained me through the training workouts. I’m just so lucky to be able to do these watched by the chompers, snappers and fangy friends of Natureworld, but if those bloody kookaburras don’t stop laughing at me soon I’ll swing for them, so I will!

Interesting facts: My wife and I bought East Coast Natureworld on a spur of the moment decision when out on holiday from the UK. I was the sound director on ABBA's first TV show, worked with Benny Hill over a twenty-year period and with my border collies Scott, Lad and Jane, represented England at the International Sheepdog Trials.

Childhood ambition: To be a zookeeper.

Present ambition: To help conserve the animal that brought me to Tassie in the first place, our amazing but threatened icon, our little devils.

Maureen Englefield - 64
I don't know how I got into all this! One day I was chatting and the next I'd signed up for the Devil Islanders and to do the London Marathon.

A bit like when Bruce and I were on holiday to Tasmania in October 2000 and signed up to buy a wildlife park on the spur of the moment. But what with nursing, being the youngest ever district midwife, building three self-build houses, mothering two children and a husband, management diploma, Director of Women's and Children Services for Surrey UK, rally driving, and running a wildlife park, home life's been pretty dull.

So what a great challenge and a way to get back that figure of yesteryear and help our Tassie devils.

Mind you, exercise and me never did mix. Naturally I've kept active and enjoyed walking, but sport... a reason to get a glass of Tasmanian Diamond Island red, King Island cheese and a good book.

However, with the fitness improving and the weight diminishing I could be persuaded to take up bowls perhaps.

Dale Hunter - 47
My name is Dale Hunter, I am hoping to walk/run the London marathon with the rest of the Tassie Islanders. I am 47 and currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Art at Utas.

I am a portrait painter. I have long held a desire to be a runner but never dreamed that I ever would, until I heard Bruce on the radio looking for people to run the London marathon. I rang him and there you are!.

I started off running in Blundstones because I had nothing else (quite comfortable really) 3/4 km wasn't too bad for my first effort. I had however walked long distances - in the blunnies - loosing quite a bit of weight along the way.

I live on 400 acres near Ansons Bay and have so far trained on my own, running around paddocks, chasing sheep, geese and turkeys along the way with my trusty companions the sheep dogs.

Things became quite serious in a short period of time, so correct running gear was required. I have been training now for three months and have managed 7 km running/jogging and feel fantastic. It has been a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve the 7 km and I hope to manage the 10 km on Sunday with the rest of the Tassie Islanders.

Joanna Stronach -  57
“How did I get myself into this?”, is a question I have asked myself a number of times in the last couple of months since I took up the challenge to do something positive to save the Tasmanian Devil.

To even contemplate competing in a full 42 km marathon at 57 years of age must be a sign of either madness or stupidity. It does help however to have both some mad friends and a strong incentive.

Having known Debbie Gardam now for a number of years and having participated in a number of activities together it did not take a lot of effort to convince me to join this project. Coming into the winter with a desire to lose a little weight and with a twelve month old Australian Terrier along with Debbie for training partners, I didn’t need a lot more incentive.

For the past fifteen years along with my husband, David, we have owned and operated our own business in Bicheno. Bicheno’s Gallery and Apartments (formerly Crohill Gallery) has operated for fifteen years promoting and selling fine arts and craftwork from Tasmanian artists and crafts persons. Twelve months ago we added two 2-bedroom accommodation units to the business.

I am actually enjoying training now and although my commitment was to walk the distance, I am now finding that I am starting to intersperse my walking pace with periods of jogging, or should I call it “shuffling”.

I have only suffered one injury so far when my four legged training partner suddenly crossed in front of my feet causing me to trip up, landing on my hands and knees. Whenever I become discouraged, I only have to think of the plight of the devils with the awful Facial Tumour Disease to realise that this really is worth the effort.

I see the Devil Island Project as a practical way in which I can make a difference and enjoy the fitness benefit at the same time.

Andrew Woodard - 39
In 2005 my family (Belinda and Lucy) and I moved to Bicheno so that I could take up the position of the Principal of the Bicheno Primary School. During this time we have built a house and have loved everything about our new lifestyle. We saw the opportunity of coming to Bicheno as a great sea-change and a wonderful opportunity for Lucy to grow up in a small, vibrant coastal community. The move has also enabled me to follow some of my passions of playing very average golf and finding it difficult to stand on a surf board.

The Bicheno Primary School has had and is continuing to build, a wonderful partnership with Natureworld. Our Environmental Leaders are currently involved in a project with Bruce Englefield to re-establish a tree belt to protect the Flora Walk from heavy winds. Many of our students are also involved with a Boys Club that Bruce has started. The boys are currently nurturing blue tongue lizards and learning about all the skills of rearing animals, skills of responsibility and commitment.

Now, the marathon!  Many of my friends and family have found it quite humorous. My sporting background is predominantly in the area of Australian Rules Football and Athletics. Mind you, it has been many years since the halcyon days of training and having a size 32 waist.  In my hey day I would boldly run into football packs full of players and still come out standing. The other day I was going for a run and was set upon by a penguin and was nearly knocked to the ground…my, how it changes.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to run in the marathon. More than this, I am looking forward to being involved in a project that is of such significance and is focused on such an iconic Tasmanian creature such as the Tasmanian Devil. I want my daughter Lucy to have the opportunity to grow to see the Tasmanian Devil as a wild and healthy part of Tasmania. I truly believe that this project will help secure that opportunity.