Woman to take on London Marathon for hospital

Katherine said she was "anxious, excited, quite emotional" about running the marathon

A woman will run the London Marathon on Sunday to raise funds for the hospital where both she and her daughter had open heart surgery.

Katherine, from Solihull, was six when she needed an operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital to treat a hole in her heart which was present from birth.

Years later, daughter Molly needed the same procedure at the age of four.

Katherine said she felt "emotional" to be taking on the challenge for a cause which was so close to her family.

"The care I received was exceptional," she said.

"At the new site as well when Molly went, the surgery, the staff... the facilities are all absolutely amazing, I can't thank them enough."

Molly is now 13 and will be watching her mum in London on Sunday

Hoping for a time of four hours, she is part of a team of runners taking on the marathon, who have so far raised more than £70,000.

"I feel very anxious, excited, quite emotional about it, as well, the whole thing," she said.

"I can't wait to do it."

Molly was four when she had her surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital

Molly, who is now 13, said she could still remember appointments at the hospital and undergoing treatment.

Her mother was able to stay with her at the hospital throughout.

"I'm very proud of her for all the fundraising she has done for Birmingham Children's Hospital," she said.

"For me I'm going to be really excited and proud of her when she crosses the finish line."

Arj Thiruchelvam has been helping Katherine get ready for the run

Katherine has been working with trainer Arj Thiruchelvam to get ready for the 26.2 mile run.

"Katherine is the kind of person who is quite determined," he said.

"She is quite competitive, very often it is me saying 'slow down a bit.'

"She has been doing really well, I have zero doubts about her ability to run the London Marathon."