Keeping it in the family (From Gazette Series)

Keeping it in the family

A RUNNER from Wotton-under-Edge will be joining the thousands of participants in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 18 _ and maintaining a family tradition.

Helen Berwick took up running with her husband, Pete, who took part in the event last year and in 2002.

Helen, 41, runs regularly "for fun" but she has been seriously training recently.

She has been sticking to a 16-week programme devised by a running magazine, building up from 30 to 45 miles a week.

She usually runs for six miles at a time, around Ragnall, Coombe and Wotton, but on Sundays is driven to Cirencester and runs home.

Helen said: "I run five days a week, do keep fit one day and have Fridays off."

Sponsorship money from her marathon contribution will be donated to Blue Coat Primary School and Katharine Lady Berkeley's School, which her three children attend.

Helen added: "Although the children haven't actually done any running with me, they are with me in spirit and they will all be supporting in London, along with Pete, organising the 'running buffet'!"

More than £200 has already been promised from Katharine Lady Berkeley's students, with Helen collecting sponsors from audiences at the school's production of Return to the Forbidden Planet.

She will also be visiting the school's postponed Pampering Evening on Thursday, April 22 for more support. She made an appearance at Blue Coat School's Easter coffee morning yesterday.

Helen hopes to complete the marathon (26.2 miles) in under five hours.

"But just to complete it on the Sunday will be enough, really!", she laughed.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Helen can contact her on 01453 845558.