AT 61, retired school teacher Tricia Rees-Hughes will run her first marathon in York this year.

The grandmother-of-two is running for Yorkshire Cancer Research, a cause which means a lot to her as many of her family including her husband, daughter and mother-in-law have been affected by cancer.

Running a marathon has always been on her 'bucket list', and training is going well as Tricia has already completed training runs of over 20 miles.

Tricia said: "This will be my first marathon and as I am now 61 years of age, probably my last! Having secured a place I decided to raise money for a charity close to my heart - Yorkshire Cancer Research.

"I appreciate that my story is not unique and that everybody's lives have been touched by cancer.

"I am so grateful for the care and compassion which my family received from the NHS during these difficult times but much more money is needed if we are to beat this dreadful disease."

Tricia's first husband Rob Simpson died in 1992, weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Her mother-in-law Betty Simpson passed away in 1983 from a secondary cancer following an initial breast cancer diagnoses in 1963.

Her daughter Laura was diagnosed with a clear cell sarcoma of her left kidney in 1988 at 22-months-old.

The tumour was too large to be removed so she underwent chemotherapy, followed by surgery and then more chemotherapy.

Laura is now 29-years-old and is living and working in the Lake District.

Having started running at the age of 55, Tricia, from Brafferton, is a member of a running club in Easingwold.

Seven thousand people are expected to line up at the start for the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, October 11.

Now in its third year, the marathon has a largely flat and scenic course, taking in country lanes, villages and many of York's historical landmarks.

- If you would like to sponsor Tricia, visit justgiving.com/Tricia-Rees-Hughes/