A MOTHER-OF-TWO went through the pain barrier to run two marathons in two days in memory of her friend's daughter.
Apryl Hammett, 42, of Springfield Road, Chelmsford, raised more than £1,500 for Little Havens Hospice, the charity which cared for former Cathedral primary school student, Lily-Mae McKinstry, ten, who died in November.
Apryl said: "She was a fabulous young lady. My children Lottie and Joseph went to the same school. What happened to her, and her family, was just awful.
"I have run marathons before - I've run the London Marathon four times - so I decided to do something which would take me out of my comfort zone.
"A friend of mine suggested the double marathon and it seemed like a perfect match."
The married Essex County Council librarian braved the daunting Double Martello Marathons on Folkestone seafront at the weekend (January 10-11).
The Saxon Shore Way course consisted of four 6.5 mile laps along the wind-battered coastline of Kent, where the rain hammered down for the weekend event.
"It was a fantastic experience but the weather was absolutely atrocious," she said.
"It was really tough conditions. I was running 11-minute miles into the wind and then seven-minute miles on the way back.
"My children and my lovely husband, Guy, have been phenomenal. Even though I ran the marathons alone, my family has definitely become part of the team."
Lily-Mae's mother Vicki posted on Facebook after the event, thanking her friend for her fundraising efforts, writing alongside accompanying pictures of Lily-Mae that her daughter would be proud.
Lily-Mae was admitted to Broomfield Hospital in May, after her speech and thinking became difficult.
Her family was told she had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and a 2cm tumour. She died in November last year.
Donations for Little Havens Hospice can still be made at Mrs Hammett's fundraising page, uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AprylHammett
Information about Lily-Mae's story can be found on the Lovely Lily's Dreams and Wishes Facebook page, while donations can be made to www.gofundme.com/lily-mae
