A KEEN charity worker is looking to raise money for a Ugandan and Kenyan based charity when she prepares to take to the streets of London to run her first marathon.

Gemma Collier, of Hatherleigh, has spent the past 12 months working at the international hospital in Kampala, a privately run health care establishment, with approximately 100 beds.

The hospital holds the largest intensive care unit in the country and serves as a national referral centre for clinics around the country and neighbouring Sudan.

Gemma is keen to continue supporting medical needs and hopes to return to do mission work in the future.

She said: 'I will be joining thousands of other runners on Sunday April 26 to run my first ever London Marathon to help raise money for AbleChildAfrica.

'During my time in Kampala I was able to visit some very poor missions' hospitals, rehabilitation centres and AIDS hospitals.

'Each experience was different and challenging in new ways but there is such a need for education to prevent many of these problems.'

Anyone who wishes to pledge a donation to the charity can log on to the website: http://www.bmycharity.com/GemmasMarathonCampaign">www.bmycharity.com/GemmasMarathonCampaign.