A supermarket manager is hoping to raise £1,500 for a cancer charity as she prepares to run the London Marathon.

Laura O'Connor, 21, of Leybourne Road, Leytonstone, is running the marathon on April 26 for Children with Cancer.

She is currently one of the managers of Waitrose in Islington and was a member of Chingford running club until two years ago.

The former Wanstead High School pupil is hoping to raise awareness of the cancer charity, which supports families whose children are diagnosed with the disease.

She said: “I am aiming to fundraise over £1,500 for Children with Cancer and hopefully make sure people hear about the issue of young children dying from cancer.

“There are 36,000 children dying of cancer a year in the UK and I just don’t think people know of this enormous figure, it is shocking.

“I only got confirmation I was doing the marathon in mid-December so there is not much time to train, but I used to run for my school and in Chingford so I am confident in running it under four hours.”

Miss O’Connor is currently training up to two hours a day five times a week.

She will be running the Richmond half marathon on March 22 in preparation and has vowed to not drink until the marathon is over.

She said: “It is the first time for me so I am super excited but also very nervous, but I love running so I think it will be a great experience.

“I have also stopped drinking until the marathon is over so I can really focus on my training.

“This is quite a big thing as I have crazy party animal friends who I'm usually out with each week.

“I haven't drunk since 7th December, which in total will be over 4 months.”

To support Miss O’Connor’s cause click here.