TWO friends of West Devon girl Pippa Langston, who died aged 26 last October after a lifetime of fighting cystic fibrosis, have been raising money to help those with the disease.

Pippa was a long-time member of Spooners and West Dartmoor Pony Club and after her death two friends she made at the club — Kate Allenby from Whitchurch and Frances McKinnon from Bere Alston — decided to help other young people with cystic fibrosis.

Both Kate and Frances were first class tetrathletes in the pony club. Kate went on to win an Olympic bronze medal in the modern pentathlon and Frances represented Great Britain in America.

Frances decided to run the London Marathon to fund-raise for the Pippa Langston Riding Fund — it was set up by Pippa's family to pay for people with cystic fibrosis to learn to ride and to give them the chance to develop a love for riding. It also provides vital exercise.

Frances completed the run in 3 hours 50 minutes. And she said it really did not seem too difficult: 'The atmosphere was tremendous and the crowd kept me going.'

The sum of £1,500 was raised in sponsorship and Frances said she was delighted to have helped the cause.

'Pippa was a great example to us all and I am glad her memory will live on through the fund, she said.

Kate helped to train the athletes taking part in the recent Tresco marathon on the Isles of Scilly and with the promotion of the event — which raised money for the Cystic Fibrosis Fund. She also started the race.

Gretta Madigan, Pippa's mother, said: 'Although I am still desperately sad to have lost Pippa, it is a very great help to know how much she was loved and admired by her friends.

'I think both Frances and Kate are fantastic.'