MARATHON fundraiser Michelle Sherratt from Weymouth will be taking on a huge challenge to raise money for people with blood cancer.

She will be hitting the streets of the capital with thousands of other determined runners to take part in the Virgin London Marathon on April 21.

Mrs Sherratt will be running for Anthony Nolan – a charity that helps those with blood cancer.

She said she wanted to run for a cancer charity for all those people who she knew who had been affected by cancer, including her husband Keith and his sister Margaret, who both survived cancer and her ex-father in law Fredrick, who sadly lost his battle with the disease recently.

She said: “Everyone knows someone that’s been affected- family or friends.”

In April last year Mrs Sherratt took up running and now goes three or four times a week.

She recently ran the Great South Run and a half marathon at Sherborne as part of her training.

She said: “I’m just training at the moment. I’m running three to four times a week. I’m going to try and get to 20 miles before the London marathon.”

The mum-of-three said the family had been getting involved by taking to their bikes while she went running.

To help her reach her £1,800 charity fundraising target to let her take part in the marathon, Mrs Sherratt is organising a music and auction night on March 9 at the Salvation Army Hall, Westham Road in Weymouth. The night of music will start at 6pm and tickets are £3 for adults and £1 for children including a buffet meal.

To book tickets call Mrs Sherratt on 07967 430957 or to donate online visit her Just Giving page at Justgiving.com/Michelle-Sherratt1

ARE YOU RUNNING THE LONDON MARATHON THIS YEAR? CONTACT THE ECHO NEWSDESK ON 01305 830999 OR EMAIL newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk