A PARTNER from Appleby has raised more than £4,000 to help fund medical research into leukaemia.

Faye Moffett from Appleby's Isle of Man office raised the money after completing the London Marathon on April 17.

She raised the money for ELF – the Elimination of Leukemia Fund – which is a small charity raising money for medical research into the causes and cures of the disease.

Faye said: "In a year when the course record for the London marathon was broken with a time of two hours and four minutes and 40 seconds - I did not break any records.

"My time of six hours 27 minutes was about an hour slower than my target time – the heat made it great for spectators but not for the runners. I was however delighted to finish and never did hit that 'wall'. 

"The atmosphere was amazing, crowds cheering on the side of the road and the other runners encouraging one another – it was unbelievable. It would be fair to say I found it pretty hard going but the sponsorship and support I have had really made the difference."

Faye decided to run the marathon after losing an aunt to cancer and hearing that a close relative had been diagnosed with the illness.

She continued: "The sporty frame I thought I cut was becoming a figment of my imagination. I thought it would be a good time to try to correct that and do some good - not only for myself but for others. I never aimed to break any world records, just to get around in one piece."

Faye's target was to raise £2,000 for the charity but the total amount of money raised stands at £4,200 and this is expected to rise.

She said: "I am really touched by the level of donations – from family, workmates at Appleby and from friends and colleagues on the Isle of Man and further afield. My sincere thanks to everyone who sponsored me – it really did help get me over the finishing line."

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