A charity worker is to run the London Marathon tomorrow in memory of her friend who died at the age of 23.

Catherine Deakin, of Chamberlain Place in Walthamstow, is raising money for Help for Hospices, a provider of palliative care in the UK, which she is a volunteer for.

Ms Deakin will be running the 26 mile race for Laura, her friend and former housemate who died four years ago.  

She said: "After no more than a bit of cross-country at school, I began running again in 2009 in charity fun runs after my beautiful friend Laura was diagnosed with cancer.

"Losing her just five weeks later to the disease has made keeping running for great causes such as Help the Hospices all the more meaningful.

Ms Deakin says there are still too many people with terminal illnesses in the UK not receiving the best possible care towards the end of life.

She is aiming to raise £2,000 for the charity.

"I’ve never done anything like this before so the training has been a real challenge, but hospice care is so close to my heart, Ms Deakin said.

"I have had the privilege to see the fantastic work that hospices do every day.

"I’m very grateful for the donations that I’ve had so far from local people and businesses in Walthamstow, which will help support people at the end of life and their loved ones."