A NURSERY nurse will be thinking of disabled youngsters she has looked after to keep her going when she runs the London marathon.

Gemma Hodgkins will be running the 26-mile run next April for the disability charity Scope and hopes to raise £2,000.

She said: "I saw on a running inspiration page that if you feel like giving up you should think about those who can't run and run for them.

"I used to be one-on-one support for a little boy who has cerebral palsy and I will think of him.

"He would love to be able to run but he is in a wheelchair and can't."

Miss Hodgkins, who works for Sunnyside Day Nursery, said she would also be thinking of another youngster with cerebral palsy that she currently helps to look.

The mum-of-one from Blackpole first decided to start running five months after the birth of her son Isaac, now 1.

She said: "My brother Paul decided to run a half marathon for charity last April.

"He lost a lot of weight and got really fit.

"I'd just had my little boy and thought I'd sign up.

"I did Birmingham half last year and I did Worcester half in April.

"The London marathon is the next step. I've always wanted to do it."

So far Miss Hodgkins, aged 28, has raised £700 towards her £2,000 target through family fun days, a cake sale and organising dinner parties where people donate the money they would have spent going out.

On Saturday, she will hold a jumble sale selling clothes, books, toys, board games, kitchen equipment and lots more.

There will also be face painting and a cake stall available at the event running from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, August 29 at the Masonic Hall, off Rainbow Hill.

Anyone interested in donating to Miss Hodgkins's London marathon appeal can do so by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaHodgkins

Anyone with raffle prizes they would be happy to donate for a raffle at Christmas can contact her on gemma.hodgkins@yahoo.com