Tadley pet shop owner Amanda Peel is fulfilling a life-long ambition to run the London Marathon to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Amanda, 45, from Tadley, has been building up her running challenges in preparation for running the London Marathon in 2024.

She has already run Endure24, the Basingstoke Half, Andover Half and the Great South Run this year and has a few more races planned before the big one on April 21.

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A keen runner, she also set up her own running group ‘Tadley Ladies Running Club’ for those who aren’t as confident at running so unsure about joining an established running club right now – it runs every Tuesday and Thursday from outside her Claws ‘N’ Paws pet shop behind Sainsbury’s in Tadley.

Amanda said: “I’ve been running a fair few years now, have completed 40 half marathons and even ran a couple of ultra-distance at Endure 24 at Wasing Park. But I have always wanted to run the London Marathon, my husband, Mike, has done it a few times but I have never managed to get a place.

Basingstoke Gazette: Amanda Peel from TadleyAmanda Peel from Tadley (Image: Contributed)

"This year I applied to run for CRY as my brother and his wife lost their daughter very suddenly as she sadly had a poorly heart. Because of that, I feel really passionate about this cause and was thrilled when they accepted my application so now I am trying to raise as much money as possible for them – my target is £2000 but I would love to smash that!” Amanda has a Just Giving page : https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amanda-peel7 and customers can also donate cash directly in her shop as there is a charity box on the counter.

“People have been so generous already,” continued Amanda, “I have already managed to raise over £700 and it’s still not the end of the year yet. As I said, I would love to smash my £2000 target. I am going to keep running and by the time London Marathon comes round I know I will make everyone proud who has donated.”