AFTER seven years trying to secure a place on one of the world’s biggest marathons, a Dursley woman will finally run through London’s streets for charity.

Taking part in memory of her grandfather who died of leukaemia, Hannah Osborne will run this year’s London Marathon after trying to get a place every year since.

Despite just six months ago not being able to run for more than two minutes, she is now capable of marathon-length runs ahead of the April 23 race.

More than £600 has been raised so far for Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) and Hannah has set herself a £1,000 fundraising target.

“Grandad was so healthy that we all thought he would live to 100,” she told the Gazette. “But unfortunately he got leukaemia and died.

“We were really close and he’s very much missed and what I want to do is make him proud.”

With help from Jonny Marks, a personal trainer at the Pulse in Dursley, Hannah has gone from having no experience of running and only managing a two-minute run on a treadmill to being ready for one of the world’s most famous long-distance running events.

“People would tell me that ‘you’re never going to do it’ but it’s been a dream of mine for the last seven years,” Hannah added.

“Six months ago I was barely able to run for two minutes on a treadmill but thanks to Jonny I’m now ready to run the marathon.”

This year’s marathon attracted more than 250,000 people applying with just over 53,000 being accepted to take part.

Runners are chosen through a ballot system, Hannah was accepted to take part in this year’s run on her seventh attempt at securing a spot.

Funds raised through her fundraising page (justgiving.com/fundraising/runhannahrun2017) will all be given to Bloodwise, the national charity set up with the aim of tackling blood cancer.