TWO women from the Hatherleigh area will be running the Flora London Marathon in just over a week's time — and aiming to boost funds for charities which are very special to them.

Teacher Hannah Dodwell from Monkokehampton will be taking part in this challenge of a lifetime in memory of her sister Charlotte, who died six years ago at the age of just 16 from an asthma attack.

Gemma Collier, a paediatric physiotherapist, is running for AbleChildAfrica, a charity which helps disabled children and young people in mainly Uganda and Kenya. Her fundraising effort has been helped enormously by a donation of £1,000 from Okehampton College, where she was a pupil.

The 23-year-old is currently working with the charity PACE which helps children with neurological conditions to become more independent. She has recently returned from a year working in Uganda.

Once a keen runner, this will be Gemma's first marathon and she has raised £2,000 so far. People can make a donation via the webpage at: http://www.bmycharity.com/GemmaMarathonCampaign">www.bmycharity.com/GemmaMarathonCampaign or in local shops.

Hannah Dodwell is an English teacher at Great Torrington Senior School where her pupils have been helping her to raise funds in aid of asthma charities. She will be running the London marathon with her dad Chris.

Hannah has run several half marathons but this is her first full one and she is looking forward to the event.

But what would her sister think?: 'Charlotte hated running so she would probably think it was quite funny,' said Hannah.

'But she was a vivacious girl and full of beans so I think she would think it was quite good I was doing the London Marathon.'

The shock of losing her sister, who had suffered from asthma her whole life but not severely, spurred Hannah into fundraising, which she has combined with her interest in running.

She ran her first half marathon for charity a month after her sister died.

'I have always wanted to run the London Marathon so to do it in memory of Charlotte was the perfect motivation,' she said.

'Dad has a charity place so we need to raise £1,500 to secure his place.

The Tally Ho public house in Hatherleigh is helping Hannah by having a collection box in the bar.

Donations can also be made online at the website: http://www.justgiving.com/hannahdodwell2">www.justgiving.com/hannahdodwell2