DITCHING the usual 21st birthday festivities to run 26 miles around London may not be everyone's idea of fun, but that is exactly how one Hatherleigh resident has chosen to celebrate.

Charlotte Laycock, who turned 21 this week, has been training hard for the last two years in preparation to run the London Marathon to raise money for spinal research.

Charlotte said: 'I always wanted to do a marathon before my 21st birthday, so I'm slightly disappointed it falls 13 days after my birthday.

'When I was younger I thought that I wanted to achieve something amazing before I was 21 — so I thought I'd better get into action.'

Charlotte hated sports when she was at school and said she used to try anything to get out of PE lessons: 'That's why everyone was so surprised when I said I was going to do the London Marathon.

'My mum has done a half-marathon and my dad's done marathons a few times. I decided to start running because you can run anywhere, it's free and you can run as far as you like — it just seemed like the best idea.'

Charlotte is raising money for spinal research after her godfather was paralysed from the neck down in a car crash.

'In September mum and I ran the Great North Run for spinal research and raised a massive £14,000. So far, for the London Marathon, I have raised £600.'

Charlotte raised the money through sponsorship and by a having a bucket on the bar of the Tally Ho! Inn where she worked for four years.

'I had a bucket on the bar with my face on it and a pleading note. Everyone has been so generous. I even took a bucket round Hatherleigh Market dressed in my sports gear.'

The marathon is 26.2 miles and Charlotte said she has never run that far before: 'I ran 24 miles on Easter Sunday as part of training but never 26 miles.

'I'll be running on my own but I think the atmosphere will help me along. Everyone's been asking if I'm excited — I'm not, I'm just really nervous. I'll be most nervous when I'm standing on the start line surrounded by loads of people, thinking "What am I doing?".'

Charlotte's dad will be going up to London with her, to cheer her on at the 15 and a half mile mark and will be waiting for her at the finish line.

'I don't really have a specific time to finish in, just to finish the marathon will be enough, but to do so in four and a half hours would be fantastic.'

The marathon is on Sunday April 25. Anyone who would like to sponsor Charlotte can donate money at the Tally Ho! in Market Street, Hatherleigh.