Director of nursing and care services at Hartlepool & District Hospice, Claire Kelly, is getting fit for the 26-mile run on Sunday, May 25, in aid of local hospice care.

Claire, 40, said "I set myself a goal when I was 37, to be the fittest I have ever been when I reached 40.

"I couldn't get a place for the London Marathon and the Edinburgh Marathon had been recommended to me as a good one for a first-timer so I signed up!"

Claire, from Darlington, has taken part in the Great North Run for the past three years as part of her fitness drive which has helped her prepare for the forthcoming challenge.

"Seeing people of all ages, shapes and sizes doing the Great North Run for charity inspired me to do the same."

Working closely with the patient care team at the hospice for the past two years Claire has seen first hand the impact their specialist care has on the lives of hundreds of local people affected by life limiting illness or the death of a loved one.

"I understand how much the hospice relies upon the donations that members of the local community raise.

"I also see first hand where the money goes and witness the impact it has upon people's lives.

"Our patients and the hospice inspire me to raise the money and keep running!"

Claire's training schedule for the Edinburgh Marathon started on her 40th birthday in January, but recently had to be put on hold because of a hip injury.

She said: "Training was going really well and I managed to get up to 18 miles a few times. But I picked up an injury and had to take four weeks' rest."

Claire who has two boys aged nine and five, has set herself a target of raising £1,000 through sponsorship of her run towards the inpatient, outpatient and bereavement support services at the hospice. She has already been promised £880.

To find out more about why Claire is running or to sponsor her please visit her online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/clairekelly3.