Woman to run Everest Marathon dressed as lime

Endurance runner Sally Orange, pictured with her MBE, has completed more than 80 marathons

An adventure athlete is preparing to run the world's highest marathon while dressed as a lime.

Sally Orange plans to join the annual international high altitude adventure sports event, the Everest Marathon, on 29 May.

It is the latest challenge for Ms Orange, from Stafford, who in 2023 completed seven marathons in seven continents over seven days while dressed up as fruit and vegetables.

The army veteran, who was honoured with an MBE for her efforts, said the costumes made people smile and encouraged them to ask why she was running.

"I want to break that stigma associated with poor mental health and just normalise the conversation," she said.

Ms Orange on Milford Common where she used to run as a child

Ms Orange also aims to complete her 13th London Marathon this year to raise money for the Samaritans whose service she says she has used herself.

“I hid the fact I had severe depression and chronic anxiety. It took me to the brink of suicide," she said.

• If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

The runner recently returned to her primary school, Leasowes Primary, in Weeping Cross, to give a talk to the pupils about her adventures.

One parent wrote on social media that her child “never ever tells me anything about school, I usually get a grunt! However I heard all about your visit!”.

The runner recently visited her old primary school and met former teachers

It was an opportunity for Ms Orange to reunite and thank former teachers who first took her running and inspire the next generation.

“It was incredible. Lovely for the children to see that I’m no celebrity – I’m just a real person who went to the same school as them," she said.

"Hopefully they can see that you can go on and achieve.”