A CHARITY worker is tackling the Yorkshire Marathon for Yorkshire Cancer Research after both her husband and stepfather were treated for cancer.

Helen Waddington, from Hambleton, near Selby, is a casework manager for Perennial – Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society.

She will be thinking of husband John and stepfather Bill Pollock when she runs on Sunday, as both men have beaten their battles with cancer.

Helen said: “My training hasn’t gone exactly to plan as I suffered from a cold which set me back, but fingers crossed I won’t be the last to cross the finish line.”

The race will be a return to running for Helen after a knee operation two years ago stopped her racing. She will be one of 400 runners raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research at the marathon.