SPORTY Andrea Stroud is putting her best foot forward to raise cash for sufferers of motor neurone disease.

The speech and language therapist has won a place in the London Marathon this April and hopes sponsorship money can buy vital equipment for terminally ill people.

Mother-of-two Ms Stroud, of Hardy Avenue in Weymouth, is running the great race in memory of her stepfather Raymond Baker, who died of motor neurone disease last year.

The condition destroys nerve cells and leaves people unable to walk, talk, eat or swallow, while leaving their intellect and senses unaffected.

Formerly a carpenter, Mr Baker used a Lightwriter - similar to technology used by cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking - to communicate his last wishes to his family.

The machine was on loan from the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Ms Stroud, 37, said: "Without the work of this charity, Ray would not have been able to fulfil his last wish of dying peacefully at home with my mother by his side.

"His speech deteriorated rapidly until he was unable to hold a conversation, but he was lucky to have the use of a Lightwriter.

"Most sufferers are not so fortunate and end up being unable to communicate for the rest of their lives.

"Please sponsor me to raise money to buy another Lightwriter for the Motor Neurone Disease Association resource bank.

"It can then be loaned out as a lifeline to those who cannot communicate due to this cruel and debilitating illness."

Ms Stroud, who used to be a children's step aerobics instructor and plays netball, has been in hill and interval training since the beginning of the year and is going on nine-mile runs to build up her stamina ahead of the big event.

She said friends and colleagues had helped to raise £350 so far and added: "My children Jacob, nine and Joshua, seven, have even donated their pocket money."

Are you taking part in the London marathon for a good cause? If so please contact the Dorset Echo newsdesk on 01305 830981 and we will be delighted to feature your appeal.