WHILE most parents are busy spending the summer break entertaining the children, a mum-of-three is gearing up for a half marathon.

Katya Banks, 35, of Thornbury, is currently training for the Bristol Half Marathon, being held in the city on September 14.

Mrs Banks, originally from Russia, will be running the 13 miles in aid of the British Lung Foundation. "I am a close friend of the chairman of the charity and thought it was a good cause to support.

"The British Lung Foundation does a lot of good work and needs supporting," she said.

The British Lung Foundation is the only charity that represents all lung diseases, including asthma, and helps to fund major research programmes into better treatments.

This athletic venture will be a change in lifestyle for Mrs Bank, who is more comfortable playing old Russian folk songs on the piano and singing.

This will be Mrs Bank’s first half marathon but so determined is the young mother to make it to the finishing line on the day that she has already started a vigorous training programme three evenings a week.

She said: "I've never done a big run before but one of my challenges is to see how strong I am."

Mrs Banks is hoping for much support on the day as a well-known personality in Thornbury.

Not only is she a cast member of Thornbury Amateur Drama and Musical Society and will be in their October production of Kiss Me Kate, but Mrs Banks is also a regular presenter on Thornbury FM with her programme From Russia with Love.

For more information about The British Lung Foundation visit www.lunguk.org.