A NURSE from Frampton Cotterell is taking on a marathon challenge in her 40th year.

Jill Robinson will compete in the London Marathon this Sunday, April 24 raise vital funds for deafblind children and adults.

Jill, who works as a clinical nurse specialist, is aiming to complete the marathon in under four hours. As part of her training she has completed three half marathons and is also training with a local running group, the Frampton Harriers, as well as attending a fitness boot camp and spin classes.

Jill, 40, was inspired to take on the gruelling 26-mile challenge to raise money for Sense, the national deafblind charity after hearing about the support close friends had received from the charity.

She said: “Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list and I’m so pleased to finally be able to achieve it in my 40th year.

“I really wanted to run for a charity I had a personal link with. Close friends of ours, Helen and Richard Conway have twin boys called Ernie and Ted.

"One of the boys, Ernie, was born with Down’s syndrome and sight and hearing impairments, they regularly attend Sense’s Woodside Family Centre in Bristol where Ernie receives one-to-one support from a specialist, they have always been full of praise for the support Sense has given them.

“To be able to raise funds to help support other children and adults deafblindness makes running the marathon even more special to me.”

Jill has already smashed her original aim of raising £1,500 and has set a new target of £2,000 for Sense. To sponsor Jill visit justgiving.com/Jill-Robinsonalittlebitofcraziness