A 74-year-old Sidmouth woman is planning to run the London Marathon next year for the first time.

Marion Johnson is holding a fundraising event this month to help raise the £2,000 needed to secure her place running for the charity Leukaemia Care.

She is a member of Sidmouth Running Club and has completed the Exmouth 10K run this year, as well as the Exmouth Maer Half Marathon. In both events she won the 70-plus class – but was the only entrant in that age group.

Marion said: “I came into running a few years ago via the NHS Couch-to-5k app but found it hard! I’d previously cycled out and around - including Lands End to John O’ Groats, but lost my confidence when my balance became a problem. I missed the commitment to a little exercise each day. 

“It was when I joined Sidmouth Running Club recently that I became a more competent and stronger runner. I’m slow but have always enjoyed a challenge! The club is inclusive and has encouraged its members to take part in trail and road running events at whatever level suits. That’s been so good for me - I’m easily intimidated!

“I decided to try for a London Marathon place. I had always thought it was way beyond my capabilities, but I’d thought that about every distance I’d tried, so on that basis it was worth a go.”

She said she had chosen to fundraise for Leukaemia Care because the charity is very close to her heart: “I have very close friends who have been traumatised by this disease.”

Marion has to raise an initial £2,000 to justify her place in the marathon with TeamLC and is holding a soup/sandwich lunch event at The Guide Hut in Lawn Vista, Sidmouth, at noon on Saturday, June 7. She has also set up a JustGiving page.

She added: “My family have been very supportive in my running efforts and will be looking out for me next April. In the meantime my three daughters and one of my sons are competing with me in the Otter River Rail 10k event next month to celebrate my 75th birthday.”