A NOVICE runner is planning to tackle the London Marathon in tribute to her mother who has an incurable form of cancer.

Sophia Waters, 25, only started running a few years ago, but hopes complete the arduous challenge in April to raise �5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Care.

Miss Waters, of Bury St Edmunds, has set her ambitious target to thank the charity, which has supported her mother, Jenni Waters, who has multiple myeloma, an incurable form of bone marrow cancer.

“Macmillan has been fantastic to us,” she said. “They have been great for my mum and given her a lot of support, both practical and emotional.

“Most people have benefited from them in some way, so I decided to do the marathon as a way of thanking them.”

Miss Waters only started running a couple of years ago when she started training for the 5km Race for Life in Bury St Edmunds.

“I always hated running, so it was quite a challenge,” she said. “But I’m starting to enjoy it now.

“I’m both excited and terrified at the same time.”

As well as completing the gruelling 26.2-mile course, Miss Waters hopes to raise �5,000 with various events for the charity before the big day.

To boost her fund, she is organising a fundraising dinner and auction at the Angel Hotel in Bury on March 19 to drum up some support.

The three-course meal in the hotel’s St Edmunds Suite will also include a champagne raffle and a charity auction with prizes including a flight in a hot air balloon and a baseball cap signed by Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

“People are being so generous with their sponsorship,” Miss Waters said. “If I can raise my target amount it will make a great difference to so many cancer sufferers and their families.”

Tickets for the event are priced �30 each, available by telephoning 07747 824 747 or by e-mailing sophia.waters1@yahoo.co.uk

To sponsor Miss Waters, visit www.virginmoneygiving/sophiawaters

jo.thewlis@eadt.co.uk