A 50-year-old Chigwell runner will take part in her first London Marathon on Sunday in aid of a hospice which helps people in Redbridge.

Carol Yusef, of Pudding Lane, Chigwell, has volunteered in the library of Saint Francis Hospice in Havering-atte-Bower for eight years, but will now hit the tarmac of the capital to help them out.

She was determined to help the hospice after moving to Chigwell because of the support received by her late husband, Howard Mitchell, who died of lung cancer at a Suffolk hospice in 1998.

To prepare, Carol completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon with 12,500 other runners and regularly gets help from her brother, Graham Skinner, an experienced runner.

She said: “I know first-hand how much the free treatment hospices provide can do to help a family in crisis.”

“Saint Francis is absolutely brilliant.

“The one-to-one care couldn’t be better.

“It really is an amazing place.”

The hospice is looking for other people with a place in the marathon to join Carol and their team of runners.

If you would like to take part call 01708 771 405 or email events@sfh.org.uk.