148748546

Nicola Wilkins, of West Parley, will run 12 marathons in 12 months in tribute to her mother Valerie, who died of colon cancer in 2016.

"Bonkers" Nicola, 41, first began running while visiting her widowed father. She will take on her latest challenge to raise funds for charity Bowel & Cancer Research.

“I was visiting Dad to keep him company and there was no local gym, so I took some trainers with me and thought I’d do a few runs around the block, but kept going a bit further each time," she said.

“Then I decided to do my first half-marathon, and when that went well, I had a bit of a celebration, drank too many gins and signed up for a marathon.”

Nicola ended up doing four marathon distances in 2017, including a 30-mile ultra.

“As my head is in a better space and I’ve stopped eating so many chips, I thought I’d do something challenging for a cancer charity," she said.

Nicola's dad Leslie, 77, is "very supportive" of her efforts.

“He thinks I’m bonkers, and he’d be right,” said Nicola, a claims fund manager for Vitality medical insurance company.

“He reckons my mum would say I’m stark raving mad.”

Nicola will take on the Larmer Tree Marathon this month, the Virgin Money London Marathon and the Bad Cow Frolic in April and the Ox 50 Miler and Dorchester Marathon in May.

She'll also complete further runs in June, July, August and October.

“I just have to make sure I keep fit, eat well, sleep well and embrace the rest days," she said.

"There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to do it.

"Because it’s so bonkers people are asking me about it, and I’m raising awareness about bowel cancer if nothing else.”

Chief executive of Bowel & Cancer Research Deborah Gilbert said: “Our aim is to fund the best scientific research to ensure that people like Valerie Wilkins don’t die of bowel cancer in future and we can only do that with the support of fantastic fundraisers like Nicola."

To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NicolaWilkins3