A BELSTONE woman has successfully completed a huge athletic challenge by taking part in the Paris Marathon, to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Katherine Manchip, 22, and her friend, Allie Matchwick, 21, from Reading, took on the challenge to raise money for the TRUST children's home based in Tamil Nadu in India.

Both girls, who are studying veterinary medicine at Bristol University and who both worked at the home for five weeks last summer, ran the marathon on Sunday, April 11.

Katherine said the marathon was hard work, but worth every effort.

She said: 'I completed it in four hours and two minutes and Allie did it in four hours and 15 minutes, which we were very pleased with!

'Allie did especially well as she tripped over and twisted her ankle at mile ten, but carried on — the swelling has taken weeks to go down!'

The girls, who both live together in Bristol, expressed thanks to everyone who generously supported them.

Katherine said: 'So far we have managed to raise over £5,000.

'Our aim was to make enough money to build a dormitory for the older girls at the children's home and we have certainly raised more than enough.'

The small, family-run charity, which was set up after the 2004 Tsunami, is home to 43 children, aged between 6 and 18.

The page closes at the end of May.