AFTER losing her father last year, a Stourbridge charity runner is hoping to honour her dad by completing the London Marathon.

Amy Skidmore will take on the 26 mile run around the capital’s streets in aid of Action Heart – a Dudley charity which was strongly supported by her dad before his death.

Her dad Paul was walking in Wollescote Park with his wife and Amy’s 2-year-old son when he suddenly collapsed and passed away from heart disease, aged 54.

Although he had a history of the disease - suffering from his first heart attack 20 years ago - at the time of his death Paul was fit and healthy.

Following his first heart attack, Paul went onto the Action Heart rehabilitation programme and soon took up running.

He joined the charity's running club, going on to take part in a number of London Marathons for the charity in the process, and even though he had to undergo a triple heart bypass at the age of 50, with the help of Action Heart Paul could almost return to full health.

So to honour her dad’s legacy, Amy has signed up for this year’s challenge, with the main goal in completing the gruelling challenge in under four-and-a-half hours.

Amy said: “My dad lived life to the full and never let his heart issues hinder him. He was an avid runner and loved his motor bike and long rides out with his friends.

“As a family we eternally grateful for all the support Action Heart gave to dad and we truly believe that his love of running kept him with us much longer than would have been possible.

“I spoke to Joy at Action Heart to see if they had any spaces available for the London Marathon as this was something I’d always spoke with dad about doing but I had never got around to.

“Through Action Heart I gained a gold bond ticket, so since then have been training hard and aim to finish the marathon in under four hours 30 minutes.

“My dad is sorely missed by all who knew him and many people have said that they began running because of him.”

In September last year, Amy and Paul’s friends at The Fitness Factory, in Wollaston, decided to organise a 5k fun run in his memory which raised more than £8,000 for the charity.

Joy Brown, fundraising executive of Action Heart, said: “Paul was a keen member of the Action Heart Running Club and raised so much money for the charity.

“It is great to see Amy following in her dad’s footsteps by running the 2016 London Marathon in Paul’s memory, raising even more money for Action Heart.

“While she knows it is going to be an emotional experience, training is going really well and we are really looking forwards to cheering Amy on.”

To donate to Action Heart and support Amy’s marathon efforts visit https://www.justgiving.com/Amy-skidmore1