DRESSED as a toilet roll, Susan Ridgeon may cause a few giggles when she takes part in a charity run next month, but the reason behind her fundraising drive holds a sadder story.

The 39-year-old will participate in the Great North Run to raise money for the Lullaby Trust, after both her brother and cousin both tragically died within six months of each other when they were babies.

Her brother Peter and cousin Mathew died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 1986, when Susan was seven-years-old, and since then she and her family have been raising money for charities which support other bereaved families who have experienced such a devastating loss.

Susan, from Norn Hill, Basingstoke, will be wearing her humorous toilet roll costume in the event, which she has worn to take part in various television programmes including Come Dine With Me and Ninja Warrior.

She also broke a world record wearing it in the London Marathon, becoming the fastest person to complete the 26.2-mile course in four hours and 54 minutes dressed as a toilet roll in 2017.

Although no one has run a marathon faster dressed as a toilet roll, Guinness World Records changed the criteria for the record this year, stating that it had becoming ‘fastest toiletry item’, resulting in Susan having her record taken away from her by someone dressed as a tube of toothpaste.

But not one to be defeated, she is now attempting another world record at the Great North Run on September 8 in Newcastle, when she hopes to complete the 13.1 mile course in less than two hours and 10 minutes, to claim the Guinness World Record for the fastest person dressed as a toiletry item to complete a half marathon.

Susan, who is a scrum master for New Voice Media, said: “I turn 40 next week so I have age against me, but it’s not impossible. I think my slowest time for a half marathon is about 2.10, but I haven’t run that distance in a toilet roll costume since the London Marathon. It’s restricting because your arms are at the side and you high-five a lot of people on your way round, which does slow you down.”

She said she doesn’t mind being known as the toilet roll lady, adding: “It’s given me quite a few opportunities and has become my thing. I don’t mind, there are worse things and it’s quite different.”

To sponsor Susan visit virginmoneygiving.com/toiletrolllady