A MEMBER of the Times team is preparing to 'give it her all' and run the London Marathon, while raising money for Okehampton College.

Jo Camies, receptionist at the Okehampton Times office on East Street, has been hard at work preparing for the marathon on April 13.

It will be the second time Jo has participated in the London Marathon, having run it in 2011 for premature baby charity Bliss.

In sweltering temperatures of 20C, Jo finished the race in 2011 in four hours and 35 minutes.

This year, Jo's name got picked out of the hat for one of Okehampton Running Club's three places in the showpiece event.

Jo's husband Rich, their children Charlotte and Harry, and Jo's daughter Louisa will all be joining Jo to cheer her on as she runs through the streets of London.

A dedicated coach and member of ORC, Jo has been training hard in preparation for the event, and is now becoming a marathon veteran, having also run Bournemouth Marathon in 2013 in a time of four hours and 25 minutes.

She has decided to use the marathon as an opportunity to raise funds for Okehampton College PTFA (Parents, Teachers and Friends Association).

Jo said: 'My eldest daughter Louisa attended the college, and my younger daughter Charlotte is now there. My son Harry is in Year 5 at Okehampton Primary, and will be moving up to the college soon.

'It was fantastic to support a worthy charity like Bliss in 2011, but this time I wanted to support a local cause. One that supports the education and opportunities of young people in Okehampton is as good a cause as I could think of.

'Any money I can raise will help, and I will do what I can.'

If you would like to support Jo's efforts, you can pop into the Okehampton Times office on East Street or Quinn's Hairdressers and put your name down on one of Jo's sponsorship forms.