A former army officer from Suffolk is running 15 marathons in 15 days to mark the centenary of the First World War - aiming to complete her mammoth challenge at the finishing line of the London Marathon.

East Anglian Daily Times: Former army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWNFormer army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Mother-of-two Lizzie Rosewell, 39, from Kedington, sets off to France on Friday, April 6, ahead of her gruelling 360 mile run, beginning with the Paris marathon on Sunday, April 8.

But while other competitors celebrate crossing the finishing line, Mrs Rosewell’s ‘In the Footsteps of the Fallen’ run will have just started.

She plans to follow the Western Front, visiting major battlefields and memorial sites of World War One before heading back to the UK, completing her challenge by running the London Marathon.

To make the challenge even more difficult, she will be taking it on alone, carrying all her kit - including a tent and sleeping bag - on her back.

East Anglian Daily Times: Former army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWNFormer army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWN

She estimates her pack will weigh around 12kg.

Mrs Rosewell, who went to Ipswich High School as a youngster, is raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund and has already raised more than £2,400 of her £3,000 target.

She said she was looking forward to hitting the road.

“I’m pretty much ready to go,” she said.

East Anglian Daily Times: Former army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWNFormer army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“It’s just a case of getting my last bits of kit together.

“I used to be an army officer and really wanted to do something to support the soldiers charity, for serving solders and veterans.

“It came together nicely to mark the occasion and support our current soldiers 100 years on from what we were told would be the war to end all wars.

Mrs Rosewell, who has two children, seven-year-old Issac and five-year-old Emma, said fitting training around their busy school schedule had been a big part of the challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: Former army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWNFormer army oficer Lizzie Rosewell is running 15 marathons in 15 days (finishing with the London Marathon) to raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“Thankfully I’m a morning person,” she said.

“It has been a lot of very early mornings fitting my training around family life.

“My family are very excited for me but I think they probably think I am slightly mad taking it on .

“They are all really enthusiastic about it and will coming to London to cheer me over the finishing line on Sunday.”

For more information on Lizzie’s run, and to donate to her fundraising campaign, search Lizzie Rosewell at uk.virginmoneygiving.com